Westburn Te Kura o Hereora joined the Music Festival for the 2023 finale on Friday 03 November in the Christchurch Town Hall.

I am so incredibly proud to have worked alongside our talented singers in preparation for the Music Festival this year. Despite a tight time schedule with other musical events adding challenge to our workload throughout the year, our Westburn choir performed superbly in the final of 4 evening performances at the Christchurch Town Hall. We are very grateful to our families for your extended support throughout the year, and give special thanks to Mr Charles Levings, Mrs Nicole Dale and Mrs Leanne Hammond for your continued support. 

This year, over 600 primary students were auditioned for only 300 select spaces in the Representative Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Orchestra and Concert Band. I have been told first hand by the Festival organisers that the calibre of talent was the highest they heard for several years, and this set the bar for selection even higher than in previous years. 

It is no surprise that the blue Westburn shirt was spotted among these groups, with 18 of our students being selected. These students gave hours of their own time, including giving up some of their holidays to learn a separate selection of pieces, as well as some beautiful harmonies to accompany the massed choir items. 

For the first time, an additional select string ensemble was created, for the massed item 'Star Canon'. Congratulations to Cheryl and Hatsumi for your exquisite performance during this piece. 

I wish to extend our extra congratulations to three Westburn students, who became eligible for the Four Year Medal, for representing Westburn in the Representative groups over the last 4 years.

Ka mau te wehi Cheryl, Kate and Sophia.