It's been a quiet month for the leaderboard but house competitions are ramping up in August with the House Quiz and Arts Day. Watch this space for a change in the board. 

St Paul’s Collegiate School students Seumas Eade, Venessa Joyce and Caitlin Lou (Year 13) attended the Hamilton Vocal Competition held at the University of Waikato, Gallagher Centre of Performing Arts. The event is attended by music enthusiasts and performers from throughout the upper North Island and includes university students.

The three students went to the competition only a few days after they had finished performing in Godspell, St Paul’s annual production, where they were part of the lead cast.

A highlight for the trio at the Vocal Competition was a master class with New Zealand mezzo-soprano Sarah Court. Venessa says, “It was an enlightening experience and a great opportunity to work with Sarah on singing technique and improve musical skills.”

One of Caitlin’s performances was Wiegenlied, a popular German lullaby. She says, "It was awesome to see so many genres of singing and to experience singing competitively in such an amazing environment."

Venessa and Seumas performed a duet called, It Was a Lover and His Lass and received a Very Highly Commended award for the performance. Seumas gave a moving rendition of, Empty Chairs and Empty Tables from Les Misérables (view here).

To win the Junior Recital, Seumas performed one song in English and another in German. He says, “It was very rewarding to sing in the Concert Chamber where many professional singers have performed. Winning the class was the icing on the cake.”

Results

Caitlin Lou

• Commended: Own Selection
• Commended: Folk/Traditional Song
• Very Highly Commended: Musical Theatre
• 3rd Place: Junior Recital
• 3rd Place:15 & Under 18 Scholarship (across four categories)

Seumas Eade

• 1st Place: Junior Recital
• 3rd Place:15 & Under 18 Art Song
• 3rd equal: 15 & Under 18 Musical Theatre
• Very Highly Commended: 15 & Under 18, Own Selection
• Very Highly Commended: Under 18 duet with Venessa

Venessa Joyce

• 1st Place: Sacred Song, Pie Jesu
• 1st Place: Own Selection, Poor Wandering One
• 2nd Place: Art Song, Frühlingsglaube
• 2nd Place: Folk or Traditional Song, The Trees They Grow So High
• Winner: 15 & Under 18 Overall Scholarship Award