During the term break, a couple of our talented musicians went to Christchurch to participate in the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Symphony Orchestra. Diny Zhou (Year 12) played Violin 1, and Gabriella Schuitemaker (Year 10), who played Violin 2 auditioned last year to get into the 2023 intake.

Their course was from April 10th to April 15th, and they finished with a gala concert to showcase their hard work over the six days. They played Russians Sailor Dance from the Red Poppy by Reinhold Gliere, Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major by Joseph Haydn, and Symphony no.4 in F minor by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

On April 30th, some of our students and teachers participated in the Swing It Jazz at the Symphony with the Hamilton City Pops Orchestra. Mrs Colvin, Mrs Smith, Mrs Oliver, students Joy Liao (Year 11), Diny Zhou (Year 12), Kezia Schuitemaker (Year 12), and Old Girl Samara Nation played several jazz pieces which consisted of April in Paris, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Sing Sing Sing, It Don’t Mean A Thing, Take 5, Li’l Darlin’, Cute, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Anything Goes, and more. They practised hard for weeks to perfect the pieces to prepare for their concert.

Pippa Morgans - Instrumental Arts Captain