Successes for Dio musicians

RECOGNITION FOR DIO MUSICIANS

Two of our talented Year 12 students, Hattie Johnston and Sunny Zhang, were selected for New Zealand’s best-loved national choir, the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, for 2021/2022. The year got off to a great start with an intensive weekend in January for the National Choral Academy at the Aotea Centre. The NZSSC got to work alongside Voices NZ Chamber Choir and the National Youth Choir to begin preparing for Carmina Burana, the first concert to feature all three choirs. This was followed in April by an intensive week in Wellington that included performing at two high-profile national events: the State Memorial Service for Prince Philip and the national ANZAC Service.

Our Director of Choirs, Rachel Sutherland, Assistant Director and vocal consultant for the choir said the highlight was singing for the National ANZAC Memorial Service at Pukeahu in Wellington. The choir’s rendition of the Richard Puanaki waiata Wairua Tapu went viral. Shared internationally, it received close to 400,000 views in just a week. The choir will next meet in Auckland in July and this course will conclude with their first concert.

Year 13 flautist Helen Kim has not only been successful again in her audition for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, she has also been appointed principal flute. This honour makes Helen the top flautist for her age group in the country.

Year 12 viola player Elise Ji was also successful in gaining a place in this national orchestra. They performed a challenging programme in the newly refurbished Christchurch Town Hall in the April holidays after a week of intensive rehearsals. Elise has also been a member of the Auckland Youth Orchestra for three consecutive years.

Year 13 student Matilda Hol, this year in the violin section, has been a member of AYO for the past three years as a viola player.

A new addition is Year 12 horn player Ella Riley who joins the AYO team for the first time and is loving the opportunity to perform challenging pieces amidst a 15-strong orchestral brass section!

Yet another talented Year 13 student is trumpeter Jessica Marshall. Jess once again successfully auditioned for the New Zealand Youth Symphonic Winds – the premiere concert band for young people aged 16- 24. This year Jess will perform a concerto with our Dio Concert Band and will be remembered for her moving rendition of The Last Post at our ANZAC services here at Dio.

It is a great achievement to be accepted into these prestigious national and regional orchestras and choirs, offering our top musicians the opportunity to team up with the very best of New Zealand’s young talent.

Every one of these girls also represent Dio in our elite choral and instrumental ensembles and we are very proud of their dedication.

Below: Music achievers (L to R)

Sunny Zhang, Ella Riley, Hattie Johnston, Matilda Hol, Elise Ji and Helen Kim. (Absent from photo – Jessica Marshall)

Girl bands rock

The Jam Factory contemporary music programme has been in full swing this year. We have many new groups at Years 7 and 8 level, all of whom have participated in outdoor lunchtime concerts in the Chapel Courtyard. These concerts have been very well received and provide a great experience for our younger bands.

We had some fantastic results from the Rockquest regional heats at the end of May. Three out of our four bands made it to the regional finals, showcasing their funky original compositions. They were: TV Racket – Mia Reid and Hattie Johnston LIFT! – Victoria Wright, Olivia Turnbull, Olivia Smithies, Eleanor Tenbensel and Aimee Schnuriger Second World Problems – Catarina Young, Talia Wood, Sabine MesserGoodall, Mila Hopwood-Craig and Vanessa Huang

There were 31 bands in the Auckland Central heat and only 12 were selected for the regional final, so it was an amazing start to our competition season. A huge shout-out to the girls and their tutors, Keith Millbank and Richie Pickard. Well done everyone!

Second World Problems LIFT! TV Racket LIVING

NZCT CHAMBER

MUSIC COMPETITION

After last year’s unprecedented triple national achievements in the competition, we have expanded our groups to include Years 7 and 8 students. With over 30 girls in 12 different instrumental combinations, our talented musicians will be serious contenders for the big prizes this year and we look forward to smashing it at regionals and nationals once again.

The regionals have some 80 ensembles from the Auckland district alone and for the first time the Northern finals will be hosted in the Diocesan Theatre. The national finals will be in the newly refurbished Town Hall in Christchurch later in August.

NATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

For the first time we entered our 20-strong Clyde Street Jazz Band (ranging from Year 8 to Year 13) in the National Jazz Festival Competition in Tauranga. With over 50 schools competing, Director Jill Christoff was thrilled with the girls’ achievements, winning a silver award. The band did the round trip in a day but next year plan to stay the long weekend and experience the high-octane jazz environment on offer, with opportunities to participate in workshop sessions run by the very best jazz musicians in the country.