Performing Arts Update
SHIRLEY SHOWCASE
On Tuesday, September 19th, the Shirley Showcase event took place. This student-led concert featured original music from students of all year levels, rock bands, as well as our award-winning Junior Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, and the Senior Jazz Band, which recently won the Best Big Band award at the Southern Jam Jazz competition this term.
It was a fantastic evening that showcased a wide range of musical talents. Bradley Mutch, Jelani Benjamin, and Ben Swift did an excellent job as MCs, engaging in casual and fluent conversations and interviews between performances.
The event wouldn't have been possible without the technical expertise of Ciaran Stewart and Lewis Hawkyard, who handled all the sound for the event. Lighting was expertly managed by James Darnell and his team, who also worked on "High School Musical" earlier this year. They once again demonstrated their exceptional skills, providing top-notch sound not only for the audience but also for the performers on stage.
What made the night special was not only witnessing the immense talent on display but also seeing Shirley students express their unique musical styles.
I'd like to take this opportunity to bid farewell and express my gratitude to our graduating Year 13 students who performed that night. As they leave school, I want to acknowledge their mentorship of younger students and the tremendous support they've provided during my first year as the Head of Faculty. We're immensely grateful to Josh Murray, Ciaran Stewart, Ryan Scammell, Tane, and Aka Pakeha - Heke for their outstanding leadership in the music department over the past five years. We'll miss them and wish them the very best in their future musical endeavours.
TWIN HARMONY NATIONAL SUCCESS
Last Friday night, the Tangata Beats National finals took place, featuring a performance by "Twin Harmony," from Shirley Boys' High School who had previously won the Christchurch regional heats. They were among the ten acts selected to compete in the final at the impressive "Q Theatre" on Queen St. in Auckland.
With support from HOF Jane Herman and their caregivers Alan and Gwyneth Beard, they made a trip to Auckland, filled with two days of music and media workshops, sound checks, a photo shoot, and TV interviews for the Saturday morning show Fresh TV. They also recorded material for a webisode series set to be released later this term.
Tane and Aka spoke openly with the media about their meaningful music, addressing tough topics such as family violence. They proudly shared their two songs, written in both English and Maori, that express hope and love. We thank Matua Hone for all his support with this.
We're thrilled to announce that they emerged as the winners in the Solo and Duo category, making them the top duo in this prestigious national competition. This competition has launched many music careers, and in addition to some prizes won, they also secured a recording opportunity.
The entire trip was an incredible opportunity to connect with musicians from all over New Zealand within the industry. Despite the jam-packed schedule, they returned to lead their Kapa Haka group, showing their strong work ethic and dedication to mentoring younger students.
We greatly appreciate their commitment and their focus on being positive role models. As they pursue their music studies at university, we're confident that New Zealand will hear a lot more from the talented "Twin Harmony" in the future. Best wishes to them on their musical journey!
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