BACKSmokefree Rockquest – Regional Band Competition
12 Rangitoto bands took part in the heats, with Year 10 band Feynman’s Constant and Year 13 band The Birds qualifying to compete in the regional final. The Birds took out third place and Best Song at the regionals and can now submit their video to be considered for eligibility in the National Final.
Smokefree Rockquest – Regional Solo/Duo Competition
Four acts from Rangitoto College entered the solo/duo category of Smokefree Rockquest, with Annika Yang from the duo Annison receiving the Musicianship Award.
Chamber Music Contest
After a few year’s break from this competition, ensembles from our co-curricular Chamber Programme took to the stage at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre with 80 other groups from schools around Auckland for the 60th NZCT Chamber Music Contest. This was a great opportunity for our musicians to step outside their comfort zones and perform in an unfamiliar setting, to hear repertoire from other schools, and to receive comments from highly regarded adjudicators.
Big Sing Choral Festival
Four Rangitoto College choirs took part in the Auckland Regional Big Sing on 19 June, with Serenata receiving two awards on the final gala night – the trophy for Excellent Performance of an “Other Styles” Work and a certificate for Commendable Performance of a Choral Art Music Composition. Serenata were named as one of the Top 24 choirs to take part in the National Finale in Wellington. The Fundamentals were named as one of the Top 12 choirs to take part in the Upper North Island Cadenza in Rotorua and are on the reserves list for Finale.
Music Events
Rock & Rocky Road
Combine a darkened auditorium, café-style seating, two stages, lighting effects and stage smoke with…delicious slabs of rock road and…13 rock bands, 4 duos, 1 solo act, and 2 very entertaining hosts…and what do you get? An incredible evening of rock (and rocky road)! 65 students performed on stage, 10 students ran the tech for the event, and numerous other students helped backstage, in the kitchen and with ushering. This boutique rock concert is gaining popularity every year, with a record number of tickets sold.
Jazz Happy Hour
Our second annual Jazz Happy Hour was held on Friday 24 May at 4pm and was enjoyed by a full house of Rangitoto staff and students, Knightsbridge residents, and parents of performers. The auditorium was transformed into a cosy club space with small tables, lots of lamps and this year moody purple lighting to set the scene. Year 13 jazz guitarists Julian Roe and Joel Bird provided background music as the audience arrived, then glided seamlessly into MC duties for the afternoon. The programme featured jazz combos Newport, Leverkusen, Manawatu, Java, and Copenhagen, finishing with a set from the Year 9 Big Band class – a wonderful way to relax after a busy week at school.
Jazz Club
Our ninth annual Jazz Club was a huge success as always! A record number of supporters in the audience were entertained throughout the evening by MC and jazz combo tutor, Jono Sawyer – who is always quick with a joke, and ensures there’s a smile on every face in the crowd. The jazz staff, along with student pianist Yule Chon, provided the arrivals entertainment, followed by exceptional sets from North Sea, Montreux, and Stockholm combos, then Jazz Band, Jazz Orchestra and Big Band. Vocalists Joules Jordan and Elinor Coghlan were undoubtedly the crowd favourites.
Chamber Music at Knightsbridge Village
Six of our chamber groups presented a beautiful afternoon of music at Knightsbridge Village, on a very sunny Sunday in May. Along with a great turn out from the village residents, it was lovely to have some parents and siblings of the performers in the audience too. The students enjoyed wonderful feedback from the crowd, and we’ll be sending some more chamber groups down the hill in Term 3!
Concertos & Cookies
On Sunday 23 June our co-curricular orchestral and concert band ensembles presented their annual Concerto & Cookies showcase. Photos will be included in the next edition.
Please note
Only a small selection of photos is included in this publication.
To see more photos from events and competitions, please visit the photo albums on our fabulous Facebook page Performing Arts at Rangitoto College.
https://www.facebook.com/performingartsrangitotocollege
To see videos from many of our events, please visit our YouTube Channel Rangitoto College Music.
https://www.youtube.com/c/RangitotoCollegeMusic
We have recently launched a student-run Instagram site – check it out at
https://www.instagram.com/rangitoto_performingarts/
