In Term 2 the Music department returns to its normal routine of a busy round of rehearsals and performances. The performance and competition events are prolific during this term and many groups have a full schedule of performances.

MANifesto

The choir is in full preparation for the Regional Big Sing, to be held at the Regent Theatre on Thursday, 20th June. As part of their preparation they have performed at several community events over the last few months. With four of their members selected for the NZSS Choir tour of China, the group put on a fundraising concert to help raise the funds needed for the trip. MANifesto performed as one of the guest artists for the show. Along with the Stage Band they also provided a musical item for the evening of The Cultural Hall of Fame Inductees. The next performance on the calendar was the Rotary Youth Music Festival where they performed a selection of songs in the Plaza, outside Muffin Break. Rehearsals are now focused on preparations for the Big Sing Regional competition.

STAGE BAND

The Stage Band have already performed for several community performances that have included the Central Districts Field Days, Relay for Life, Manawatu Jazz Club, Come Fly with Me fundraising concert for the four NZSSC student tour to China, and an appearance at the Evening for inductees to the Cultural Hall of Fame.  The serious competitions have now started with the Manawatu Jazz Festival at King's Birthday weekend, audition filming for the National Young Jazz Band It competition selection and preparing for the annual Roadshow.

SUPER 8 CULTURAL FESTIVAL.

Every year the school cultural groups take part in the Super 8 Cultural Festival. For the first time in 22 years the event was held at a neutral central location in Taupo. This year the Music department were represented in the group sections by six students who make up the Lounge Lizzards Jazz Combo. They performed creditably and gained a fourth place behind three large groups from the other schools. Cole Buchanan performed with distinction on the Bagpipes in the Junior Solo section and Saem Millward represented us in the senior solo section, playing piano and singing and was rewarded with second place.

ROTARY YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Saturday, May 18th was the day to be out and about in Palmerston North City as the Rotary Youth Music Festival saw groups from many of the schools in Palmerston North playing in cafes and spaces all over the city. Palmerston North Boys' High School were represented by their elite choir MANifesto, who performed a varied programme outside Muffin Break in the Plaza.

MANAWATU JAZZ FESTIVAL, High School Bands

The PNBHS Stage Band and the Jazz combo Lounge Lizzards, will both perform in either the Big Band or Combo sections of the Manawatu Jazz Festival to be held on Saturday, June 1st at the Globe Theatre. The Stage Band will be looking to continue its run of Best Manawatu Big Band for the 16th year in a row.

CHAMBER MUSIC REGIONALS

The school is represented this year at the NZ Chamber Music regional competition to be held on Monday, 10th June, by three groups. The Guitar group (It’s a Six String Thing) the Sax Quartet and a Trombone group with four students from PNBHS and two students from Feilding High School (Slide by Slide).

HAWKE'S BAY FESTIVAL of BANDS

To be held on Sunday, June 16th, the Senior Concert Band and PNBHS Stage Band will travel to Lindisfarne College in Hawke's Bay for the annual performance at the Hawke's Bay Festival of Bands. Last year both bands received Gold Awards so are looking to aim for the same at this year's competition. As well as the bands, three soloists will also perform. Mike Sung (Clarinet), Junhee Cho (piano), Scott Sun (piano).

BIG SING REGIONALS

The regional Big Sing is to be held at the Regent Theatre on Thursday, June 20th. The school will be well represented with four choirs this year. The allcomers choir S.O.A.P, and MANifesto, as well as newcomers, The Pasifika Choir directed by old boy Mr Norman Pati, and Te Aitanga a Tane, a Māori choir directed by Mr Josh Strickland. At the conclusion of the competition a gala concert will be held in the evening at 7.00pm

All choirs will compete with choirs from the district's secondary schools to gain a place in the Lower North Island Cadenza or the National Big Sing Finale.

New Zealand Representatives

Mike Sung - NZ Secondary Schools Orchestra

Armani Whitehead-Wilson - NZ Secondary Students' Choir

Jesse Wallace - NZ Secondary Students' Choir

Saem Millward - NZ Secondary Students' Choir

Teo Jauregui-Na - NZ Secondary Students' Academy Choir

Music Department 2024 Dates for your diary:

1st June – Stage Band, Manawatu Jazz Festival, Globe Theatre, starting at 9.00am

8th June – Fete de la musique, Globe Theatre, Stage Band - 2.10pm, MANifesto - 3.15pm

10th June – NZ Chamber Music – 4.00pm, Speirs Centre

16th June - Hawkes Bay Festival of Bands, Concert Band, PNBHS Stage Band

20th June – Big Sing Regional Competition, Regent Theatre, Pasifika Choir at 10.57am, Te Aitanga a Tane at 12.15pm

S.O.A.P Choir at 2.05pm and MANifesto at 2.57pm, 

8th and 9th August – Music Roadshow

21st and 22nd August – School Concert, Speirs Centre starting at 7.30pm