Chamber Music

The Chamber Music programme at HBHS is continuing to develop and grow in calibre. Our musicians have again achieved some outstanding results, testimony to their many hours of both individual and group practice throughout the year.

The Waikato District round of the National Chamber Music Contest was held at the University of Waikato on Friday June 17th. Tre Corde, featuring Alex Liu, were the recipients of the adjudicators award in recognition of their high standard of performance. Daniel and Nathanael Loy and Kevin Li, the three members of Tritones, were the champion group for the second year running, giving them direct entry once again to the Northern Regional Finals on Saturday July 2nd. They rose to the occasion and while they did not make the last stage for the National Final, they have grown significantly and look forward to challenging themselves further in 2023.

Tritones were the recipients of the Arnold Trowell Award (open chamber music division) at the Hamilton String Competitions in the July school holidays, and Tre Corde were runners up in the Open Chamber Music Class at the Te Awamutu competitions in the October school holidays.

A new piano quartet was formed late in Term 3, comprising John Huang on piano, Amos Robinson on cello, and William Zhang and Samuel Xia on violin (don’t be fooled by the term ‘piano quartet’ – it does not mean 4 pianos!). We look forward to following this group along their chamber music journey.

HBHS/HGHS Orchestra

After two years of practice disruptions and loss of all performance opportunities, it was very rewarding to begin rehearsals again under new Music Director, Mrs Sharon Stephens, near the end of Term 1. The orchestra has a high percentage of juniors this year and for a number of players it was their first time working in a group setting and learning to understand and follow the cues of a conductor. This made for a steep learning curve and the players are to be congratulated for rising to the challenge so well.

The first performance for the year was at the Cultural and Performing Arts Showcase on the 18th of August and it was a welcome opportunity to share a new repertoire at long last. Next was the Waikato Itinerant Music Festival hosted in Cambridge on Friday the 9th of September. Not held since 2019, this was an important event not only to allow performance alongside other Waikato groups, but also to receive feedback from an adjudicator. The orchestra was awarded silver and came away inspired to work further towards musical goals.

Like any performing group, sport included, feeling comfortable on the live stage takes practice so the ability to have one further concert really allowed the orchestra to lift their game and maximise growth potential over their seven months together. A player vote set up the biggest challenge yet – to prepare the chosen piece in just three rehearsals in time for the HBHS Arts Awards held at school on Thursday the 27th of October. Well done to all students for their contribution to what was an exciting final event for the year.

We would like to make special mention of our departing Year 13s – Matthew Lynch, Nathanael Loy, Jacob Porter and Keegan Tremewan. Thank you for your huge contribution to the music scene over your time at HBHS. We will miss you!