Tylah writes:

Kia ora all,

My name is Tylah and I am very privileged to be one of your 2024 Arts Prefects alongside the talented Grace. I have always been involved in the Arts, particularly dance and drama and am very passionate about growing the Arts at Columba College. In the past, I have loved performing on the stage and being in the spotlight, but in recent years I have been behind the curtains helping backstage in shows and being involved in productions like the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competition. 

I am very excited to work with the amazing talent around the college and inspire others to get involved to help the Arts thrive. This year my personal goal is to help inspire those from all year groups to participate in the Arts, giving them more opportunities to be involved. If anyone would like to get involved in the Arts please make sure to sign up for the Arts committee or any of the other amazing arts opportunities, like our college choir or have some fun with the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competition. Maybe you would like to join one of our clubs like photography or the up-and-coming theatre sports club. Feel free to email me Grace or one of our amazing Arts teachers at the college if you have any questions.

Have an amazing weekend everyone!

Grace writes:

Kia ora koutou,

I am Grace and I was honoured to be named as Arts Prefect 2024 alongside Tylah. Being at Columba since Junior School, I have always been involved in the Arts, mainly in the Music and Performing Arts sectors. My main passion is for singing. I have been a member of the New Zealand Academy Choir for two years, and through this I have developed leadership and a more in-depth understanding of music and the Arts in general. I am involved in various Arts and Cultural groups here at Columba and am very excited to see these groups grow this year. 

My focus for the Arts this year is to raise the Arts profile at the College: I would love to see everyone getting involved and to give the Arts a go! As a member of the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, it is always amazing to see Columba students using their musical talents for the school and the wider community - if you play an instrument we have a school orchestra that we would love to see you join! ‘Cantus Columba’ is our very talented school choir to which we welcome anyone who loves to sing and perform. Every year, the choir performs at the prestigious ‘Big Sing’ competition with other school choirs from the lower South Island. This is a great opportunity and is always a fun day out, meeting new people who share the same passion for music.

More recently, we have developed an amazing kapa haka group. We learn many different waiata and, this year, we will be competing at Polyfest! Columba’s Kapa Haka truly embodies the College's GRACE values, and is a very special rōpū to be involved in. If you are more interested in the behind-the-scenes aspect of the Arts you may be interested in joining the Arts Committee to help increase the participation in the Arts here at the College. Columba offers such a wide range of Arts opportunities and there is a group or club for everyone! We have a rich Arts culture and I am thrilled to be involved with growing the Arts in 2024.

You can email me if you'd like any more information

Ngā mihi,

Grace