If 2020 felt like it had been lacking the sparkle and fizz of live performance for Nelson students due to COVID-19 restrictions, Nayland College certainly put that right last Tuesday with its outstanding Gala Concert.

Delayed due to lockdown, there was great anticipation for the event, which was held at Nelson's Theatre Royal to a full house.

From the driving determination of both the Concert Band and Orchestra, stylish steps of fleetfooted senior dancers, to heartfelt drama, skilful solos, and the symphony of no less than three separate choirs conducted by music teachers Nigel Weeks QSM and Zoe Dee, the event oozed talent from start to finish.

Kicking off the night was the Concert Band, led by Nayland’s Head of Department for Music, Kay Mackenzie, with a rousing rendition of ‘The King Across The Water’ by Bruce Fraser. The piece is based on an event in the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie and with its battle-themed start, was clear indication to the audience that the students really meant business!

With Nayland College’s strengths in performing arts, the variety kept a sparkle about the evening, which also featured the winners of this year's regional Smokefree Rockquest competition - Nayland’s ‘jazz-funk’ band Muted - and trombonist Natania Ngawhau, who will soon appear at the theatre again as a guest soloist with the New Zealand Army Band. There were rousing performances by Girls Choir ‘Sotto Voce’ and Mixed Choir NayCol Chorale, which gave a spine-tingling rendition of Stand Up, from the movie ‘Harriet’.

Drama students invoked laughter with an entertaining excerpt from ‘Dream On’, introduced by Head of Drama Verity Davidson as a modern reworking of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ - and dancers with outfits enhanced with scarlet feathers brought an air of Broadway, demonstrating their pizzazz in Razzle Dazzle, choreographed by the college’s Head of Department for Dance, Jana Polglase. 

Another highlight was the Jazz Band, led by conductor and Nayland music teacher Andrew Walker, who brought the house down with their rendition of Fats Waller’s ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’, with Will Roddick as a standout soloist.

In a night bursting with talent, there were screams of appreciation from members the audience, and even a few tears shed at the stirring performance by the augMENted Boys’ Choir of Homeward Bound, a song written by Marta Keene for a loved one who was ‘embarking on a new phase of life’s journey’. For many of those students involved, this song is pertinent, given that a number are coming to the end of Year 13 and about to embark on the next stage of their lives, despite the challenges of such a disrupted year.

Just over 100 students were involved in the three-hour event, including those in the dedicated tech team. A special guest band from Broadgreen Intermediate, which is also conducted by Kay Mackenzie, also featured, demonstrating the talent of young musicians coming up through the ranks.

Other outstanding performances included soloists Kaitlyn Rodley, Douglas Clark, George Burgess, Toby Sussex, and Titus Tsang - who also played in a stunning guitar ensemble together with Jayden Day-Anthonise and tutor Shane Cammell. Rock band Sugarloaf – which claimed third place in this year's regional Smokefree Rockquest competition - finished off the night to keen applause.

Principal Daniel Wilson said that “After a disrupted year it was amazing to see such a talented group of performers finally hit the stage. Our Gala Concert is always the highlight of the year, and despite many disappointments throughout 2020, this was not one of them. A huge thank you to the sell-out audience that contributed to the atmosphere of a memorable evening”.