The Arts Awards Celebrating 2019’s top arts achievers.

“Sharon is a young woman who has always challenged herself and possesses a rare talent for captivating audiences.”

Shelagh Thomson

Year 10, she had her ATCL and was awarded an NZ Symphony Orchestra Mentorship Scholarship. She has seven gold awards to her name as section leader of both the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, having performed three concertos over the years, winning the Most Outstanding Concerto Award and helping secure gold awards for Dio. She is a four-time winner of our Concerto Competition and for those of you who have witnessed Sharon on stage, she is a force to be reckoned with, commanding the stage and drawing you into her ‘zone’.

“Sharon is the first Dio student to make it twice as a national finalist in the highly competitive NZ Chamber Music Contest, the most prestigious secondary schools’ instrumental competition in Australasia. She has been a four-time regional finalist and has been in 10 top chamber groups over her years at Dio. TrioAstor won a national gold award in 2017 and this year, her Ronesma Trio won a national silver award.

“Last year she surprised us all, displaying some hidden thespian talents, and went to Wellington for the nationals of the Shakespeare Festival, composing the music for, and performing in, the award-winning play Julius Caesar. her one of the very few students in the country to become Licentiate of Trinity College London whilst still at secondary school. Also an exceedingly high achiever academically, Sharon is a gilded scholar and a Biology Olympiad competitor, amongst her other academic achievements.

“In my time at Dio there have been few musicians who have given the School such a committed and extraordinary service to music at such an incredibly high level. Sharon has created a ‘cello mania’ and it is through her influence that Dio now attracts the very best young cellists in the country. We wish Sharon all the very best in her bright future. Congratulations!”

For a full list of all the awards presented at the Arts Awards, please visit our website diocesan.school.nz/news

A NIGHT OF WINNER S A number of cups and awards are presented annually to girls with an exemplary level of commitment, ability and participation.

Sandy O’Brien Cup for Excellence in Drama Performance Sadie Sumich

Diocesan Instrumental Cup for long-term loyalty and leadership Jacqui Li

Jennifer Macdonald Cup for Contribution to Debating Amy Somerfield / Lexi Preen

Jean Gallagher Cup for Commitment to Instrumental Music Ling Hui Sun

Celia Mannion Cup for Speech and Drama Ella Carter

McCabe Cup for Contribution to School Music Olivia Francis

Hazel Kinder Cup for the Most Committed Chorister Doris Dong

Terri Crouch Award for Most Promising Vocalist in Year 12 Hazel Francis

Imogen Wells Award Emma Wong She

The Rosey Eady Cup for a special individual who makes a difference Sharon Hung

The David Gordon Cup for Excellence and Commitment Hannah Barber-Wilson

The Averill Award for Services to the Performing Arts Rebecca He / Jemma Lowe

Arts Council Star Award for 2019 Rebecca He

The Teacher’s Award has been generously donated by NZ Sotheby’s International Realty and this year was awarded to Suzanne Buswell for her contribution over many years to Future Problem Solving.