August was a very busy month for our musicians with some outstanding performances and accolades. Congratulations to:

The Jazz Band and Combo, who had an outstanding Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival this year! Our warmest congratulations to both groups and their directors, Lana Law and Dougal Canard, on the following: 

• Jazz Band Best Big Band
• Jazz Combo Runner Up Jazz Combo
• Jazz Band and Combo Gold award overall
• Kaia Johnstone Best Trumpet Player, 1st Trumpet in All Stars Band
• Krissy Epton Best Big Band Drummer, Drummer in All Stars Band
• Emma Comerford Bass Player in All Stars Band

 The Florestan Quintet (Ella Chen - violin, Pippa Anderson – violin, Juliet Park – viola, Elise Tian – cello, and Polly Lee – piano) on winning Gold at the NZCT Chamber Music Contest National Finals – one of the top six secondary school chamber music groups in New Zealand. After winning the South Island Final in June, these young chamber musicians who are all Rangi Music Scholars, worked hard to reach new levels of technical and musical maturity in their playing – which did not fail to impress all who heard their captivating performances.

Big Sing Cancellation

It was with much sadness that the Big Sing Finale was cancelled again this year because of the Level 4 Lockdown. This event involves over 1000 singers in the top 24 secondary school choirs from all over New Zealand, along with choir directors, music support staff and administrators. Resolutions, along with director Helen Charlton, were naturally very disappointed about this. We are planning a performance opportunity later in the term with all the Christchurch choirs that were selected for the Big Sing Finale, along with those who also won significant awards at the Regional Big Sing in June – alert levels permitting. Watch this space!