Hero photograph
About to hit the road for their off-the-beaten-track tour, SIT SOUNZ members, from left to right: Hamish O’Donnell, Lachlan Hickford, Daniel Aldersley, Megan Hay, Noak Thomas, Amee Hope-Johnstone, Haydn Dyer, Quillan Percival
 
Photo by Southern Institute of Technology

Touring the region

Lesley Brook —

Real world performance experience is valuable for budding musicians.

A group of SIT | Te Pūkenga Bachelor of Music and Audio Production students gained a first-hand taste of the realities of life on the road as musicians. This year’s band comprises Hamish O’Donnell (drums), Lachlan Hickford (guitar), Daniel Aldersley (guitar, saxophone), Megan Hay (vocals), Noak Thomas (vocals), Amee Hope-Johnstone (vocals), Haydn Dyer (vocals, bass), Quillan Percival (keyboard). All are in the final year of their degrees.

Over the course of a week in June, the band, SIT SOUNZ 2023, toured Te Anau, Twizel and Kimbell before playing at the Steampunk Festival in Oamaru. The free concerts have been organised by the students themselves through a combination of connections, timed with events and where the students would like to play. The band played well-known classic rock and pop covers.

  • “The experience of putting together and executing a tour is a great opportunity to improve my organisational skills. Also, getting more comfortable with my instrument, and being able to play for a long period of time with a setlist of our favourite songs.” - Daniel (Guitar, Saxophone).
  • “I’m looking forward to playing live in front of an audience and getting to do the tour with friends.” - Hamish (Drummer)

The annual tour provides an invaluable real-life education for those students who are serious about committing to music as a career.