Our Year 13 School of Music students tackled a new task earlier this year and entered the National Shakespeare Composition Competition which is a part of the SGCNZ National University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival.

Our three gifted students should be commended for their exceptionally high level of attainment in this composition competition. A huge congratulations to Georgie Goodyer-Willetts who composed a piece of music called Mercutio and Benvolio and entered for category A: Music composed for use in a Shakespeare Play, she received a second place and prize. 

Sophie Campbell-Owen who composed a piece of music called Guerra, el amor, la vida and entered for category B: Music inspired by a Shakespeare Play, she received a second place and prize. 

In addition, Breandan Malone’s composition Court of Music was selected as a highly commended.

Georgie, who has been attending Hagley College for last three years, and Sophie who joined Hagley  this year, were selected as two of the finalists at the competition. We flew up to Wellington  to attend the workshops and Award Ceremony in order to receive the certificates and monetary prizes.

In addition, Sophie has been fortunate enough to be selected as the guest student composer at the National Shakespeare Composition competition, which will be held in Dunedin during the September school holidays. This is an outstanding opportunity for any young music student. If she works well, she will have a chance to go even further, join the team of the Shakespeare Company and represent New Zealand at The Globe, London, and perform at Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford upon Avon, in 2017.

She is currently working hard to save up money but she needs more help from all of us.

Please give a little by following the link below or share the following link with your family and friends.

http://givealittle.co.nz/cause/sophiesshakespearedream