Held in Timaru last weekend (11-12 August), twelve choirs of around 300 students from throughout the South Island joined for the two-day event. The South Island Cadenza event blends a formal, adjudicated competition with combined Choir workshop-rehearsals, culminating in a Gala Concert and award ceremony at the Sacred Heart Basilica. The Adjudicator for 2023 was internationally renowned Choral Director and educator, Andrew Withington.

Polyhymnia was one of only two school choirs from Otago to be chosen for the South Island competition this year. We were all thrilled when it was announced that we were the over-all winner of the coveted ‘Te Reo Maori Award’ for the best performance of a song in te reo. Over-all Polyhymnia gained the Silver (‘Koromiko’) Award for our two-programme performance totalling four songs.

A huge thanks goes to Directors, Dale Irvine and Kris White and Accompanist, Jo Dryden as well as the many hours of hard work and commitment from the 31 students in the combined choir.