Nothing can stop House Performing Arts

Of all the annual events at Queen Margaret College, nothing is more highly anticipated than House Performing Arts.

It’s the blue-chip, primetime highlight of the year for so many students at QMC. For this reason, we are incredibly grateful that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Alert Levels cooperated, and the event was able to go ahead with students singing and screaming at the top of their lungs.

Each year House Performing Arts has a different theme, with the 2021 event based around ‘Icons’. House leaders were tasked with selecting an iconic individual that their house would represent and channel. After significant deliberation, Braemar chose Michael Jackson, Glamis selected ABBA, Lochleven chose Elton John, Berwick chose Queen and Stirling went with Madonna.

Although House Performing Arts is very much a day of unity, it is also the ultimate demonstration of House rivalry. There are intensely competitive undertones as all five Houses jockey for points and attempt to outdo their peers. The day consists of five different performances: Junior School Chant, Year 8 Dance, Year 10 Melodrama, Small Group and Whole House Song. Judges award points based on the quality and entertainment value of performances.

In 2021, and for the second year in a row, Lochleven and Berwick were announced as joint winners – an announcement that was met with rapture from the audience. Tawhirikura Doyle and Bianca Martin led the campaign for Berwick, while Sophia Hitchens and Melania Lui-Fai were at the reins for Lochleven.

Congratulations to all the House Leaders, as a tremendous amount of work goes into preparing all of the performances. This is a thankless job that involves hours of planning and endless energy, motivating and corralling others.

There is something truly magical about House Performing Arts. Even though there are battle lines drawn between the Houses, the togetherness and spirit of QMC is on display in a warm and triumphant way. And knowing that just two weeks after the event we were heading back into another lockdown, the memories are even more special.