Columba College's inaugural Arts Soiree presented a showcase of our community's outstanding talent.

Columba's first Arts Soiree was a wonderful evening in which prizes, cups and Arts Blues were presented and our Arts students' successes lauded. Arts Prefects, Tessa Campbell and Sophie Baron, were in top form as co-comperes after three weeks of working tirelessly to help organise and produce the event. Parents, staff and students were treated to performances in dance, kapa haka, music, speech and drama over the course of the evening. The Hall was decorated with beautiful artwork from our senior art students and Angela Fu played the piano as guests were welcomed. 

Kapa Haka started the evening off well with two stunning waita. Soloists Skyla Murray, Sienna Baker, Yufei Liu and Ariana Gepte stepped into the limelight to share their remarkable musical talents while Melissa Van der Haegen (on oboe) and Helen Li (on piano) played a beautiful duet. Elloise Cameron and Zara Glover demonstrated impressive skills in ballet and highland dancing respectively. Ripeka Potiki and Grace Johnston engaged the audience with their powerful and passionate speeches. The Year 10 drama group were delightfully entertaining, and our ensemble groups, Madrigal Choir, Junior Choir and Wind Symphonia were polished, creating wonderful atmospheric nuances in their performances. Knowing that most of these girls have not been able to perform as much as they would have planned or liked to, due to circumstances this year, it was a real treat to see them all together and relishing the feedback from the audience. 

A special thank you to Angela Fu and to all the staff who worked so hard to make the evening possible: Mrs Sarah Casbolt, Ms Ina Bercinskas, Ms Ailsa Rose, Ms Teresa Andrew, Ms Suzie Dixon and Mr Steve Shaw. Columba College would also like to thank Mr Barrie Rutledge and Ms Courtney Hickmott for their work with our musicians throughout this year.

We would like to thank the Parents' Association for the funding to help make our evening such a huge success.

Listed below are the recipients of awards, NZ representative ties and the prestigious blues awards.

Awards

The Ann Crawford Cup for Excellence in Creative Writing : Allison LeBuffe 

The Beethoven Bust for Composition : Skyla Murray 

The Bolwell Tray for Debating : Isobel Fraser 

The Brenda Saville Memorial Prize for Drama : Grace Johnston 

The Ethelwyn McGeorge Prize for Talent and Enthusiasm at the Piano : Angela Fu 

The Kim Sutton Cup for Service to the Madrigal Choir : Rita Close 

The Natalie Ellis-Wilson Cup for Excellence in Debating : Abby Bowmar 

The Preen Cup and Prize for Musicianship : Skyla Murray 

The Prize for Excellence in Senior Drama : Charlotte Werner 

The Prize for Service to the School Orchestra : Rita Close 

The Prize for Service to the Wind Symphonia : Tessa Campbell 

The Sarah and Anna Somerville Trophy for Excellence in the Performing Arts : Charlotte Werner

The Shakespeare Bust for Excellence in Essay Writing : Holly Friedlander 

The Steel Shield for Consistent Contribution to School Drama : Zoe Revell-Lynch 

The Year 11 Speech Competition Winner : Grace Johnston 

The Year 12 Speech Competition Winner : Penelope Hare

New Zealand Representatives

Isobel Fraser - Debating

Emily Ung - Pipe Band

2020 Arts Blues Recipients

Abby Bowmar : Debating 

Aidan Forbes : Design, Photography and Writing

Alice Johnston : Music and Performing Arts 

Amaya Leslie : Design 

Amelia Chang : Design 

Angela Fu : Languages 

Ariana Gepte : Musical Theatre and Performing Arts 

Caitlin O’Brien : Creative Writing and Art 

Charlotte Werner : Drama 

Ella Calder : Languages 

Elloise Cameron : Dance and Music 

Georgia Wong : Writing 

Grace Hill : Music and Performing Arts 

Grace Johnston : Performing Arts and Public Speaking 

Helen Li : Music 

Isabelle Coe : Music 

Isobel Fraser : Debating 

Joanna Liu : Music 

Jody Syme : Debating 

Lara Seaton : Debating 

Lily Frewen : Painting 

Millie George : Public Speaking and Singing 

Olivia Charles : Writing 

Poppy Henderson : Writing 

Rosie Auchinvole : Music 

Skyla Murray : Music 

Sophie Bowmar : Debating 

Tessa Campbell : Music