2018 has been a very impressive year for the orchestra. We have continued to widen our repertoire and thrive as musicians.

The orchestra’s year began with the weekend music retreat at Tirohanga camp. This gave us the chance to discuss and learn our repertoire for the year, have some fun jamming and get to know each other better.

During the year, our orchestra number increased by 15; some new Year 9's, and some more seniors.  We now have 46 students participating. Every new member entering the orchestra brings skill and training so it has greatly benefited many sections of the orchestra- especially the string section.  Role changes in the orchestra this year have been as follows: Year 9 Isaac Randall has become the leader of the clarinets after Rachael Molteno left at the end of last year; Year 12 Colin MacAndrew has become the leader of the Trombone section after Finn McKinlay joined the Viola section; and Paxton Hall now is on the piano after Sophie Sun joined the Cellos. Finally, Rikke Kikawwa McLeod is our Orchestra leader for the second year in a row. This year we now have two oboes as well as two violas and a piccolo in the Flute section.

Our first performance for the year was for the school assembly, at the end of Term One. We played the first movement of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony No. 8. We also performed at the school one evening in Term 2, as part of the Music Department Amnesty Fundraising Showcase. This was an opportunity for us to play for an extended period of time. Other performances included The LPHS Choir ensemble and the Big Bad Big Band.

The main highlight for our orchestra this year was going on a tour around Dunedin (at times with the school choir). We performed for George St Normal School, Opoho School and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Our set list included: The Second Storm, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony No. 8, a James Bond Medley, Debussy’s ‘Girl with the Flaxen Hair’, the first movement of Mozart’s 40th Symphony, and the ‘Best of the Beatles’ medley. Each performance went incredibly well especially considering how difficult some of the pieces were, and we were warmly received by the audiences we played for.