Music Department Update
Stage Band Top Two in New Zealand!
Forty Six school Big Bands entered the inaugural ‘Young Jazz Band It’ Competition through online auditions. This is a National Jazz competition set up to provide a platform for Big Bands, combos and solo artists on a par with the National Big Sing competition for choirs and the national Rockquest for contemporary ensembles. From these auditions ten bands were chosen to compete in the finals held at Victoria University on the first Saturday of the recent holidays. The PNBHS Stage Band were very honored to be chosen as one of these groups.
After a day of very strong performances by all the bands involved, the highly accomplished Burnside High School, which is a musical powerhouse claimed the $6,000 first prize, as well as the combo and solo sections. PNBHS Stage Band placed second winning a $2,500 voucher from Musicworks. This officially now places them as one of the top groups in the country. PNBHS Stage Band has consistently performed at this level for the past 10 years; a record that requires a huge amount of hard work and commitment from the boys and is testament to the expertise and hard work by band director and old boy Mr Neville Lauridsen. Mr Lauridsen was himself the Leader of Concert Band as a student at Palmerston North Boys' High School.
Term Four- the final stand
A number of our music groups rounded out the year of performances this month. In the first week of Term 4, the music department held a concert at the Salvation Army Citadel, showcasing the schools' brass and woodwind ensembles. This event was a community fundraiser with entry by items of food for the Salvation Army food bank. The concert included performances by the Year 9 Band led by Mr Young, followed by Symphonia and the Senior Concert Band both led by Mr Dredge, the concert finished with the Stage Band led by Mr Lauridsen. This was a very enjoyable evening and was well attended by parents and whanau. This concert shows the ongoing success of our Classroom Concert Band programme. Footage for this concert will be available soon.
OK Chorale completed their year’s performances by taking part in Sing Fest [an adult version of the Big Sing] on Saturday 29th October. Chorale performed items from their National Finale programme and combined with PNGHS Cantatrices for a final item.
The Senior Concert Band, OK Chorale, Stickmen Percussion Ensemble and Stage Band provided the musical entertainment for the formal senior prizegiving held at the arena on Thursday November 3rd. It was great to have this large scale event as a way to finish the year after a covid enforced break.
Congratulations to our seniors, Arahan Pilkington (trumpet) who was awarded joint Dux Artium as well as the Viv Bevan trophy for musicianship. Kevin Cao (trombone) who was awarded the John Prestidge trophy for contribution to Concert Band and Liam Edmunds (trombone) who was awarded the Winston Hoare trophy for Leadership across the Department.
Further congratulations also go to four students: Saem Millward, Josh Webster, Jesse Wallace and Armani Whitehead-Wilson who successfully auditioned for the NZ Secondary Students Choir for 2023-24: This is a two year commitment, giving up school holidays for courses and performances culminating [hopefully] with an overseas tour. 56 singers were selected nationally from 231 applicants, so we are once again fortunate to have such a strong representation. Axis Simon was selected for the Academy Choir which is a new initiative and is a one year commitment. Congratulations all!
The final gig for school groups will be for the Stage Band who combine with the Swamp City Big Band for a rollicking night of entertainment at the Salvation Army Citadel on Saturday November 19. This should be a great night of music and also acts as a fundraiser for the Just Brass programme. This initiative develops skills and confidence in primary school students through learning instruments in a band format. Entry-gold coin. See you there.