On Friday 16th August, 33 of the top-ranking ukulele players from years 7 and 8 travelled with Robyn McKay and myself (Anna Leese) down to the Dunedin Town Hall to enjoy a fun and challenging morning of Ukulele playing.

The students had prepared diligently for months for this event, learning 10-12 new chords in some cases, and some very difficult TAB patterns, which they carried off with aplomb! In between song brackets, we were entertained by the NZ Ukulele Squad, who were just incredible, and by some exceptional playing from the ukulele jam band, led by Alison Caldwell of St Clair Primary School.

To finish the event, students were entertained by a teachers item, Sweet Child of Mine, including a projected slideshow of embarrassing photos of each teacher from when they were 10 years old.

Year 8 Student Kayla Smith entered the competition for designing, constructing and decorating the best 3D ukulele - and she won 2nd prize overall!

The whole morning, meticulously organised, was an uplifting and rewarding experience, which I hope the girls will remember for a long time to come.