NZ Secondary Schools' Symphony Orchestra, Motorcycle Racing

Congratulations to Joshua Mosa'ati who has been selected into this year's New Zealand Secondary Schools' Symphony Orchestra.  Entry to the NZSSSO is by audition, drawing from some of New Zealand’s top secondary school orchestral instrumentalists. Each year they receive well over 150 applications for the course which this year involves 117 students and choir.

This is an annual event where successful applicants have the opportunity to represent their school in a full size orchestra. The standard reached each year has remained high, to the extent that full-scale works can be performed. This course is widely regarded as a significant training ground for young players aspiring to membership of the New Zealand Youth Orchestra and ultimately to a career as a professional musician.

Students involved in this course will participate in an intense six-day orchestral course, run by the Christchurch Forte Team of Itinerant Music Teachers (an attached unit of Hagley College) in the second week of the school holidays, culminating in two public performances.

Year 10 Shirley BHS student top NZ Junior Motorcycle Racer

Year 10 Aoraki House student Jacob Pierce has been spending the summer competing in the NZ Superbike National Champs at various race tracks around the country. He races in the Junior Development Class (13 – 18 year olds). Jacob’s bike is a Suzuki RG 150 two stroke.

In Round 1 at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch Jacob had three races, and he had two 3rds and a 1st (this was the NZ Grand Prix race).

Round 2 was at Teretonga in Invercargill where he gained three 1st places.

Round 3 was held at Levels Raceway in Timaru and Jacob was again competing with the best by gaining two 2nd places.

The final round was held at Hampton Downs, Auckland, on 4 and 5 March. Unfortunately for Jacob, in the qualifying race, he had a high-speed crash (doing over 100kph) which meant that he did not perform at his best, but he still finished up with a 4th and two 7ths.

At the end of the championship Jacob finished 2nd overall and while he was disappointed that he did not win, it is still a fine effort to end up 2nd in New Zealand. Congratulations Jacob.

Jacob also races in the Lightweight Production Class on a Yamaha R3. This class is for riders aged 16 and over so Jacob needed to get a dispensation to compete because he is only 15. At the end of this championship he was placed 7th overall in a field of 18 racers.