Production 2023

We have held auditions for our 2023 Production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The cast list can be found here.

We are looking forward to finally putting on stage in April our Punk music version of Shakespeare’s classic play, with a few other Dio twists. The concept has now been 18 months in the planning! Ticket sales will be available midway through term 1.

Arts Council and Captains

We are excited to have a new group of students make their mark on the arts@ Dio in 2023.

The Arts Captains will be at school on Thursday, 2 February, for a training day, where they will also meet our new Year 9s and help to foster a passion for the arts with the next intake.

Kapa Haka 2023

Our Kapa Haka group, Te Kāhu Pīhopatanga, will start the year with a noho to learn new waiata, haka, and poi and get to know each other. This is from Thursday, 26 January to Friday, 27 January (connects with Bel Suono Choir camp). If you are interested in joining the Kapa Haka before this noho, please contact Kokā at ftautuhi@wdsg.school.nz ASAP.

Extracurricular Sign-ups for 2023

Sign-ups for other extracurricular arts/performance groups will happen in the first two weeks of term 1. We encourage students to check their emails for information and sign-up forms. A notification will also be put on the Arts@Dio Facebook page.

From the Music Department

Firstly, congratulations to our Dio musicians selected as national music representatives for 2023.

We congratulate Kezia Schuitemaker, who has been selected for the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir (NZSSC) for 2023-2024. The NZSSC currently holds the title of Children’s Choir of the World.

We also congratulate Diny Zhou (Violin 1) and Gabriella Schuitemaker (Violin 2), who have been selected for the New Zealand Secondary Students' Orchestra for 2023.

In addition to being selected for the NZSSC, Kezia Schuitemaker has been selected as part of the High School Honours Series in the Honours Women’s Choir, which will meet in New York from 1 - 5 February and culminate in performances at Carnegie Hall. Participation in one of the five Honours ensembles is limited to the highest-rated high school performers worldwide. Kezia will join other performers from the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Bermuda, Canada, China, New Zealand and South Korea.

What a massive achievement for these outstanding young people!

Furthermore, Old Girl and former Arts Laureate Isabella Reid has been selected for the New Zealand Youth Choir for a 3-year tenure.

Diny Zhou — Image by: Dio Communications

Gabriella Schuitemaker — Image by: Dio Communications

Kezia Schuitemaker — Image by: Dio Communications

Instrumental Music

Our instrumental groups have had a challenging year working through COVID with our woodwind and brass beginning the year playing outdoors whilst the strings and percussion could work together indoors, distanced and masked. It took quite a while for our orchestra to meet as one group. There are many challenges for wind/brass instruments, particularly when working outdoors, as the wind likes to try to interfere with your instrument and often renders it impossible to play. Couple that with pegs holding music on music stands and sun, rain and other elements, and it takes quite a determined group of people to keep it all going. Thanks to those determined people - Mrs Elsie Kane, Mrs Angela Smith, Mr Chris Nation. Mrs Amanda Wood and Mr Clive Burnell.

Despite the challenges, the orchestra had its best year yet, winning a Bronze award at the Auckland KBB competition and a Gold award for the best orchestra of the day at the Waikato Band Festival.

Likewise, the Jazz Band had a great year too! Despite being a mostly young and inexperienced group, the students were so committed that under the tutelage of Mr Clive Burnell, they came away with a Silver award at the Waikato Band Festival.

Our Pixie Kickers commanded the stage at the Waikato Band Festival. Despite only having a few performance opportunities this year, they sounded tight and won a Silver award at the Band Festival. Thanks to Mr Andrew Hewat for his work with this group.

Vocal Music

It looked like singing outside dodging sunburn and rain, struggling to find an acoustic, hearing ourselves over cicadas, or singing inside, distanced in masks, was again going to be our reality in 2022. It was also a huge challenge for our singers and teachers.

This year was the best year ever for Bel Suono, who graced the stage in Christchurch at the Big Sing Finale for the first time! Bel Suono came away with a Bronze award and the knowledge that they were judged as one of the top secondary student choirs in New Zealand. Thanks to the team - collaborative pianist/composer, Mrs Angela Smith and vocal consultant, Mrs Jayne Tankersley.

Espresso Barbershop also had an amazing year under the tutelage of Mrs Jane Martin. They attended Barbershop Nationals in Palmerston North and were judged 5th in the Upper Voice Category. We also had two quartets in the quartet category who performed very well.

Many thanks to you all: parents, staff and students. Thank you for your resilience and perseverance in such a challenging year. I have been so impressed by your tenacity and commitment to excellence in all of our groups under challenging circumstances, and I look forward to a more settled year in 2023.

I wish you all a well-rested and well-celebrated festive season.

Maria Colvin

Director of Music

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