Hero photograph
International Concert
 
Photo by Kristan Mouat

International Concert

Lea Jess —

The annual International Concert in June was a wonderful must-see experience. Over 30 students from a range of countries performed. Everyone practised, sweated and almost lost their hope, but in the end everything was great. Because the students had so much fun, the audience also had fun.

The lovely International Head Prefects Ryan Ong, from Malaysia and Stefaniya Etumyan from Russia, hosted the evening and introduced every artist, and always managed a laugh from the excited audience.

The Chinese music this night was presented by Jenny with a voice as sweet as honey, and a duet by Ryan Ong and his friend Kevin.

"The Red Lip Crew" let the crowd go wild. Mint, Jennifer, Reileen and Mika were dancing to four different songs, after hard weeks of practice. Jesse Bawi sang a traditional Burmese song, while his sister Jennifer beautifully sang "Lay with me" by Sam Smith. Henry performed a gorgeous Korean song, before Koki, Daichi and Taichi almost passed off as a new Japanese boyband with their heart-melting singing.

The German crew Nik, Ben, Max, Anton and Malte brought one of Germany's top 'Schlager' Hits to New Zealand - "Atemlos" (Breathless) by Helene Fischer.

The youngest participant, talented musician 13-year-old Emmanuel, from Singapore played different piano pieces - one even backwards, throughout the evening.

Laura and Pun not only combined German and Thai culture in their performance, furthermore they showed a beautiful piano and flute interaction of "River flows in you". Later on Laura mastered a melodic solo on her flute.

Stefaniya Etumyan besides guiding the whole event, presented her creative original Russian poem, followed by Lea Jess, presenting a bilingual original poem about the New Zealand experience.

Our Austrian girls Theresa and Sophie accompanied by Malte, Ben and Nathalie pumped up the audience with “Skifoan” – a song about going skiing. Something, Austrians do before they can even walk.

Unfortunately the event came to an end, but not without having a Big Sing altogether performing "Imagine" by John Lennon.

Now everybody has to wait one year to see another great International concert organised and realised by new International students. Will they be as good as us? Probably not! But it will always be worth visiting, because as you know...   It's all about the fun.

Thanks to Amber Fraser-Smith, and the International Department, as well as staff at Logan Park, and our Homestay families for all the support.