Arts Awards - Celebrating Success in Performing Arts in 2019
Nayland College's Cultural Prizegiving was renamed 'Arts Awards' this year and that's not the only change. New cups and trophies were awarded for the first time this year and Nayland's Kapa Haka group were showcased and celebrated throughout the evening as well.
Amongst the new trophies were awards for Kapa Haka participants who showed outstanding levels of commitment and leadership throughout the year. Wiremu Tairaki Whiu won Kaitātaki Tāne for 'Outstanding Male Leader' and Iesha Walker won Kaitātaki Wahine for 'Outstanding Female Leader.' A spontaneous haka erupted to honour Iesha, Wiremu and Joseph Meleisea who won Kaitautoko for 'Best All Round Supporter and Cultivator of Kapa Haka.'
As well as the new Kapa Haka awards, VAST Dance Festival sponsored a trophy for the 'Most Promising Young Dancer,' awarded to Jack Nolan and JR Richardson from VenueTech donated a cup for 'Outstanding Contribution to Backstage and Technical Theatre-Craft,' awarded to Jasmine Day for her commitment and service to the school across a number of productions and musicals over the years.
Earlier in the year, Nayland's Head of Music, Nigel Weeks was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for Service to Music and as he will be stepping down from the HOD role at the end of the year, he also donated a cup for 'Outstanding Musician,' which was awarded to Toby Sussex.
The Wilson Family donated a cup for 'Outstanding Contribution to Chorus in a Musical,' awarded to Mia Faulkner for her role in our musical production 'Oliver' in May this year and the new Nayland College Performing Arts Trophy for 'Best Supporting Actor in a Musical' went to Sam Clark, also for his role in Oliver. Tiaki Sharp won 'Most Promising Junior Drama Student,' our final addition to the Arts Awards.
For the full list of all our award winners, please see below.
"Celebrating the success of our performing arts students makes for one of the most important events of the year, said Verity Davidson, HOLA the Arts. "The hard work and talent of our students, along with their love of the arts is wonderful to see. Thank you to all the parents and staff who have supported the performing arts in 2019."
Spaak Cup - Most improved junior student in music
Isabel Lyttle
Eileen Appleton-Maher Cup - Outstanding contribution to drama
Ben Dodd
Trinity College London Cup - Outstanding contribution to concert band
Josie Batt
Bruce Meikle Cup - Excellence in music
Reece Milton
Chapman-Cohen Musical Award - Outstanding contribution to music
Ben Dowdle
De Jong Trophy - Outstanding selfless service to the arts
Sophie Wallace-Jenner
Cassandra Wells Cup - Best comedy performance
Eden Lawless
Bruce Martin Performing Arts Trophy - Outstanding contribution to musical theatre
Will Roddick
Nelson City Brass Cup - Most improved brass player
Peter Gray
Nelson Civic Choir Choral Cup - Outstanding contribution to choral music
Ruby Burr
VAST Dance Festival Trophy - Most promising young dancer
Jack Nolan
The VenueTech Cup - Outstanding contribution to backstage or technical theatre-craft
Jasmine Day
Nayland College Performing Arts Trophy - Best supporting actor in a musical
Samuel Clark
Nayland College Junior Drama Cup - Most promising junior drama student
Tiaki Sharp
Wilson Family Trophy - Outstanding contribution to chorus in a musical
Mia Faulkner
Nigel E. Weeks QSM Trophy - Outstanding musician
Toby Sussex
Kaitātaki Tāne - Outstanding Male Leader
Wiremu Tairaki Whiu
Kaitātaki Wahine - Outstanding Female Leader
Iesha Walker
Kaitautoko - Best All Round Supporter and Cultivator of Kapa Haka
Joseph Meleisea
Cultural Blues
Mia Faulkner
Sophie Wallace-Jenner
Olivia Williams
Ben Dowdle
Reece Milton
Joseph Meleisea