Music

Chamber Music Back row: Braden Cooper, Mackenzie Vercoe, Mrs A Cooper Front row: Alice Liu, Shona Jenkinson, Lily Andrews, Sascha MacDonald, Sara Renall

Coro Notabile Back row: Riley Acraman, Romona Wainohu, Cody Baker, Braden Cooper, Paige Flashoff, Jamie Hollway, Krystal Mathews Middle row: Tobi Wells, Gabriel Barlow, Van Acraman, Mackenzie Vercoe, Jack Arcus, Rameka Pohatu-Hawkins, Mrs A Cooper Front row: Milly Petrie, Sara Renall, Sascha MacDonald, Jess Webb, Emily Brookes, Kendra Coombe

Karamu Chorus Back row: Bryhdie Albert, Sara Renall, Riley Acraman, Jodi Coombs, Katelyn Church, Krystal Mathews, Sascha MacDonald, Leah Boyd Middle row: Cody Baker, Braden Cooper, Jack Arcus, Mackenzie Vercoe, Rameka Pohatu-Hawkins, Paige Flashoff, Seren-Rose Williams, Mrs A Cooper Front row: Milly Petrie, Mya Wallace, Emma Renall, Elise Lindsay, Larissa Gibson, AmyRose Costello, Keira Waiwiri

This year we had four chamber music groups, across all year levels, working with the instrumental teachers to prepare pieces to play together in groups. The aim of participating in the National Chamber Music Contest was quickly put to an end by the pandemic and so the students pursued the practice and rehearsals purely for the enjoyment and learning they received. They learned what it means to perform as a member of a musical group and how much fun it can be to produce music with friends. We are extremely hopeful that some of these groups will be able to remain together and perform in next year’s round of the competition. A huge thank you to the instrumental teachers who have given extra time to these students to allow for groups to work.

CORO NOTABILE

This year began with an extensive list of exciting performances and opportunities for the students involved in Coro Notabile (our auditioned choir). We were well under way by week four of the first term and had at least two performances planned for every term of the year. And then… lockdown hit us all.

Despite the changes to our plans, we continued our rehearsals and learned a lot throughout the year. We performed at the 2020 Open Night and presented a Friends & Whānau showcase at the beginning of Term 4. We had a masterclass day with Arlie McCormick, the professor of contemporary vocal pedagogy at Otago University. Most of our students sang solos and worked with Arlie to improve their performances.

This year has been an exceptional one, and the group of students involved in Coro Notabile have been the same. It is always a challenge to create a cohesive sound with students of so many different ages and vocal qualities and this year we really found it. There will be some big shoes to fill when our Year 13 students are gone but this presents a wonderful opportunity for some of our up-andcoming performers within the school.

ROCK BAND

Although the year was fraught with cancellations, lockdowns, disappointments, and challenges, one great thing has come from all of this. We have seen the formation and growth of the Year 10 band now known as ‘Illusion’. This band is made up of Cameron Trass, Robbie Sayer and Chase Baker. The boys performed at numerous school-based events and look forward to participating in the Smokefree Rockquest competition next year. Watch this space as these boys have got a promising future ahead of them.