Nayland singers hit a high note with double-platinum Melbourne win
Our exquisitely talented choirs have been cropping up in the national media a number of times over the last week for their performances both here and in Melbourne. We have reproduced the Stuff article written by Amy Ridout from 10 August 2018 below, and included some links to the other articles produced prior to them leaving New Zealand.
A trip that began with an impromptu waiata for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern got even better for Nayland College's travelling choir group, when they picked up two platinum awards at a Melbourne festival.
The college's mixed choir and the male choir each bagged a win at the Victorian Schools Music Festival in Melbourne, where the 36 students competed against schools from around Australia.
Musical director Nigel Weeks said he was "thrilled" with the result, especially since the choir program was only in its third year. "Before we left I thought, well, it's top schools, we'll just do our best. But they have done so well, for both groups to receive platinum awards was a credit to their commitment and determination to achieve."
Performer Keely Arnold-Smith, 18, said it was difficult to put the experience into words.
"It was hard to describe ... a really amazing experience."
But the highlight of the trip was having the group's talent recognised with the platinum awards, Arnold-Smith said.
"We knew we were good but we felt the performance we did was different than other times we'd sung. It was good to get the validation, and affirm our belief in ourselves, it was such an honour."
Principal Daniel Wilson, who travelled with the group, said the awards were a testament to the students' hard work, and the festival judges had commented on the groups' energy and the enjoyment they showed while singing.
"They have worked incredibly hard, everyone is on a high. Being able to share the music with the schools here has been outstanding, they have held their own."
The choir made headlines last week when the students, waiting for their flight at Wellington Airport, spontaneously serenaded Jacinda Ardern, her partner Clarke Gayford and their baby, Neve. The choir sung a waiata, Wairua Tapu, to welcome Ardern and her family home to Wellington.
- The Nelson Mail
https://www.nzcf.org.nz/nayland-college-choirs-in-melbourne/