Our performers have done us proud, with awards gained at The Big Sing Choral Competition and the Chamber Music Contest, girls through to regional finals for Rockquest, selected for the national Shakespeare production and World Hip Hop competition.

The Big Sing
St Margaret's College choirs were most successful at this year’s prestigious secondary schools' choral competition, The Big Sing, held at The Piano. The St Margaret's College Chamber Choir of girls from Year 9-13, were awarded Outstanding Performance of a Romantic Piece for their beautiful rendition of Brahm's Waldesnacht and our Year 12 and 13 girls and Christ's College boys in the senior chorale Amanda gained the following FOUR awards:

Outstanding Performance by a First Time Big Sing Choir
Outstanding Performance of a New Zealand Composition
Outstanding Performance of a Contemporary Art Composition

and they also shared the final award with the Chorale from Burnside - The University of Canterbury Award for Best Performance of a New Zealand work.

We thank Chamber Choir Director Rachel Wilford and senior chorale Director Rosemary Turnbull for their outstanding work with our students, as well as Head of Music Amanda Woods for her continuing support and guidance.

Rockquest
Natalie Hutton performed her original song Capo 264, at the Rockquest Regional Heats with her band Household. Nat was joined by band members Liam Allan (Christ's College), Blair Wright (Shirley Boys High) and Minnie Robberds (Christchurch Girls High) but unfortunately Billie Leiataua was unable to take part as she was unwell. Household was selected as one of 12 bands to go through to the Regional Finals, taking place at The Foundry June  29. Please support the band by voting for them for the People’s Choice award following this link: http://www.zmonline.com/concerts/vote-zm-s-peoples-choice-award-smokefreerockquest-2018/

Hip Hop Success
St Margaret’s students Tessa Holley, Year 11, and Soph Kingi, Year 10, have recently competed in the NZ Hip Hop Nationals in Wellington with their crew, Aperture, from Zion Dance Studios. Aperture competed in the Junior Small Crew division along with 24 other crews and were placed first which means they qualify for worlds in Amsterdam later this year. Well done girls!

Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Success
Following on from their success in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare National Competition, Emily Stewart and Ruby Anderson have been selected to attend the prestigious Sheilah Winn National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP). The NSSP is a week-long intensive course taking place in the September/October school holidays where the girls will study aspects of Shakespeare's works and three of his plays under the direction of high calibre tutors. Tu meke Emily and Ruby!

Chamber Music Contest
Our three SMC Chamber Music groups performed very well at this secondary schools’ competition at The Piano last week with special mention to Maddy Kerr, Imogen Maynard and Mia Cleugh and tutor Susan McKeich for winning the Adjudicators' Award in the Regional Finals. The group received glowing comments from the judges, particularly for their well- blended full sound as an ensemble and their communication of character. 

Brasilia Quartet (Jasmine Ward, Caitlin Rea, Katie Gluyas, Cadance Gan) and Mundo Corde (Sujean In, Julia Hughes, Alexandra Lay, Amy Chung, Meg Shatford) also played with confidence and skill, receiving warm applause and very favourable comments from the judges. Congratulations to the girls and their tutors Jennie Goldstein and Roanna Funcke, along with music staff, Sarah Hickford and Amanda Woods.

Piano
We congratulate Year 11 student Katie Gluyas who has passed her Trinity College Grade 8 exam with Distinction (91%). Katie performed recently in the Regionals of the Chamber Music Contest at The Piano with our Brasilia Quartet and is rehearsing as a musician in our major production Alice!

Highland Dance Company of New Zealand
In the April/May holidays Annabel Watts and Ashley Marfell set off to America to perform on the world stage, Annabel as part of the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand, and Ashley as an extra dancer. While in NYC the girls visited all the sights with the highlight being their flashmob in Times Square! They travelled to Washington DC and to Virginia, where they danced every day, staying at Virginia Beach but unfortunately only stepping foot on the sand a couple of times due to the strict timetable. During their time in Norfolk, Virginia, they attended a local elementary school to perform and teach the children, a great experience for them to see how different but similar their lives are. The group performed to around 6,000 people every night and in a festival called Hullabaloo just outside the arena. They performed three dances in the Tattoo, the first an ANZAC tribute, Here’s to the Heroes, accompanied by an American singer with poppies as props, then Swing of the Kilt, and the final number, a short dance to leave a lasting impression on the audience. While backstage at the Virginia International Tattoo the girls met the locals (Marines, Army and Navy) as well as mixing with people from all over the world. 

House Day
A most successful House Day was enjoyed by all. Arts activities included Wearable Arts, Grid Portrait and Movies, all of which produced incredible results, with juniors also running their own fabulous Wearable Arts event. House Plays were a delight to watch and very highly commended by our judging panel who were most impressed with the high standard of production, skill and content. Congratulations to our House leaders for the huge amount of work put in to make this day so enjoyable.

Middle School Cushion Cabaret
Last Monday, the Middle School Cushion Cabaret was held. This was an amazing night filled with heaps of talent. We had eight acts with performers ranging from Years 7 to 10, all singing, dancing and acting! With a Hollywood Theme, the Middle School Arts Committee had transformed the Black Box into an amazing Hollywood Red Carpet event! The Middle School Cushion Cabaret was a wonderful way to showcase the arts talents in the Middle School here at St Margarets.

Electronic Music Afterschool Programme
Papanui Youth Development Trust are looking for young people to be part of a fresh, exciting Electronic Music Production programme at the Te Koru Youth Centre. If you're interested in learning how to make your own music on computers in a fun, social environment at a cool Youth Centre, this is the place for you! If you would like more information about this programme, please email studio@pydt.org, or give Tom a call on 0210503237.

Papanui Youth Development Trust
1a Harewood Rd
Papanui
Christchurch 8053
www.pydt.org
03 354 9381