Grace (Y12) and Imogen (Y11) competed at the DTDS competitions recently. Both rangatahi were awarded PACANZ Nominations for the 2023 National Young Performer Awards in Musical Theatre.

The 2023 National Young Performer Awards will be held in Palmerston North during Labour weekend. The two Columba students will compete with 24 other New Zealand musical theatre nominees, aged 15-21 years. Each competitor at NYPA presents a programme of two stand-alone contrasting pieces from fully staged musicals, integrating acting, singing, and dance. Following their solo performances, Grace and Imogen will each compete in a musical theatre masterclass with Australian adjudicator, Dale Pengelly, to decide on six semi-finalists.

Grace will perform items from Anastasia and A Chorus Line. Imogen will perform items from Mamma Mia!, and Something Rotten. To perform at NYPA in Musical Theatre, you must be a 'triple threat', demonstrating talent in all three disciplines of singing, dance, and acting. Grace and Imogen are seasoned musical theatre performers, having both won numerous awards and performed in several musicals since primary school. 

In 1977, PACANZ initiated the National Young Performer Awards. This multi-discipline award represents eight of the art forms traditionally covered in the competitions movement and is the pinnacle New Zealand event for performing arts achievement, giving ākonga (aged 15 years +) a unique opportunity to perform at the national level.

Since the inaugural Awards in 1977, more than 175 Awards have been decided at competitions that have hosted thousands of aspiring performing artists. Through prize monies and tuition grants, more than $850,000 has been invested back into the performing arts movement. The Awards are currently operated on a two-year cycle. In 2023, NYPA is offering Musical Theatre Awards for the first time. Well done, Grace and Imogen! We are proud of you and know that you will shine at the next stage of this prestigious competition!