PNBHS Stage Band by PNBHS

Music Department

The Music department has started to return to normal routines after the disruptions of 2020. The performance and competition events are prolific during this term and many groups have a full schedule of performances.

STAGE BAND

The Stage Band have already performed at more events than they did for the entire of last year. Their community performances have included Central Districts Field Days, Kimbolton Sculpture Festival, Relay for Life, Manawatu Jazz Club, PNBHS Sports Hall of Fame. 

The serious competitions have now started and continue with the Manawatu Jazz Festival at Queen’s Birthday weekend. The Stage Band is performing at The Globe Theatre at 9am on Saturday June 5, and are looking to retain the Best Local Band Award that they have held for over a decade.

HAWKES BAY FESTIVAL OF BANDS

The Concert Band and Stage Band headed to Hastings on Sunday 30th May to participate in the Hawkes Bay Festival of Bands, the boys had a great day and came away very happy with their results.

Senior Concert Band – Gold Award

PNBHS Stage Band – Gold Award and Best School Band

Hawke's Bay Festival of Bands — Image by: PNBHS

Joe Inman (cornet) - Winner of Solo Competition

Joe also recently competed in the Central Districts Brass Band competition and was placed 1st in both the Under 19 Slow Melody and the Under 19 Air Varie competitions. This is testament to the hours of disciplined practice that Joe puts in.

Joe Inman - 2021 PNBHS Anzac Service — Image by: PNBHS

ROTARY YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Saturday May 22nd 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 play in cafes and spaces all over the city. Palmerston North Boys High School had three groups play at Square Edge throughout the day, these were; OK Chorale, Drumsquad and the brass quintet Honkers. OK Chorale and Honkers then moved to Muffin Break in the Plaza to round out their day.

ROCKQUEST

Rockquest regional heats were held in Palmerston North on May 16th. There were three groups entered from Palmerston North Boys' High School and all have progressed to regional finals to be held on June 25th. It has been a number of years since we have had three bands at regionals - good luck to each of them.

Off Beat - Jazz Band

Frantic - Punk Band (Year 10 and 11 students)

Argue – Fusion Band

CHAMBER MUSIC REGIONALS

The school is represented by three groups this year at the NZ Chamber Music regional competition to be held on Friday 11th June, The PNBHS String Trio (Strings Attached), the brass quintet (Honkers) and a piano trio (Six Hands). This is held at the Spiers Centre from 4.00pm.

BIG SING REGIONALS

The regional Big Sing is to be held at the Regent Theatre on Thursday June 17th, and we have two choirs participating this year. The all-comers choir S.O.A.P, and the OK Chorale, who will once again be competing to qualify as one of the top 24 choirs to progress through to the National Big Sing, to be held this year in Christchurch in August. To conclude the days competition, a gala concert will be held in the evening at 7.00pm.

WESTLAKE BOYS/GIRLS BAND EXCHANGE

On Monday July 5th, the music department are very pleased to announce they will be welcoming four bands from Westlake Boys' and Westlake Girls' High Schools. The day will include workshops and the three school bands will combine to play together. The day will culminate in a Combined Schools Concert at 7.00pm in the Speirs Centre. The bands involved include Concert Bands, Big bands, Orchestra and the Chamber Music Orchestra. The concert should be of a really high standard, as Westlake has one of the top music departments in the country.

NZ REPRESENTATIVES

Joe Inman - NZ Secondary Schools' Brass Band (solo cornet)

Torrence Cheung - NZ Secondary Schools' Orchestra

Leo Xu - NZ Secondary Students' Choir

Grayson Lodge - NZ Secondary Students' Choir

Tom Varney - NZ Secondary Students' Choir

Sebastian Cave - NZ Secondary Students' Choir

Vealata Tongati’o - NZ Secondary Students' Choir

New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir 2021/2022 — Image by: PNBHS

Music Department Dates for your diary

5th June – Stage Band, Manawatu Jazz festival, 9.00am - Globe Theatre

11th June – NZ Chamber Music – 4pm - Speirs Centre

17h June – Big Sing Regional Competition – Regent Theatre, S.O.A.P Choir and OK Chorale

25th June – Rock Quest regionals, Regent Theatre

5th July –    Westlake Boys/Girls exchange – Combined Schools Concert                               7.00pm, Speirs Centre

6th/7th July – Music Roadshow – Manawatu Schools

8th-12th August – Stage Band to KBB Festival, Auckland

17th/18th August – School Concert