College Celebrating the Arts 2020

Every year we see the talent and numbers grow in the Performing Arts sector at the College. With more than 900 students involved in creative arts co-curricular activities, there is much to celebrate by the time it comes to the end of the year. Elliot Hall was full of students, parents, and staff last night for the annual Celebrating the Arts evening – an evening to acknowledge outstanding students and the hard work achieved over the course of the year - a particularly hard one with the disruptions with Covid-19.

The Jazz Combo played as our guests arrived and took the opportunity to view the Visual Art displays from our NCEA art students. Once seated, the Pipes and Drums officially opened the evening, making a grand entrance onto the Elliot Hall stage.

Once seated, Head of Performing Arts, Miss Sara Standring, and Arts Prefects, Esther Schubert and Ivan Zhang, gave a warm welcome and summarised some of this year’s highlights. They congratulated the Pipes and Drums for their victory at the Auckland Pipe Bands Championship in February, where they won the Alexander Family Trophy, and once again, became the top juvenile band in the region. They also acknowledged the efforts that went into bringing together ‘Shake the Goodfellow Centre.’

The prefects congratulated the music students for their victories at the National Chamber Music Finals and the New Zealand Junior Piano Competition. They also congratulated the musicians for their outstanding performances at the solo music competition, the rock band showcase, and at the Eden Park, Blues vs Chiefs Rugby game.

Adding to the success, Esther and Ivan spoke about the Performing Arts Holiday Programme that included a dance, drama and music course, the annual Dance Showcase, SKC’s got talent, and a Ballet Workshop provided by the Royal New Zealand Ballet Academy and members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Following the introductions, Kentoris performed Bright Morning Star, setting the tone for the high standard of performances to follow throughout the evening. In between awarding badges, colours, Silver Ferns and trophies, the Theatresports Premier Team, a lyrical dance group, the Flaxxies Rock Band, the Year 13 Dance class, the Chicago cast and Big Band showcased their talents and hard work.

It was also a special night for Year 10 students Rawiri Martin and Sua Hotere-Sosopo, as the new Saint Kentigern Haka, ‘Te Haka o Te Kura O Hato Keneti’,  that they wrote and choreographed, was performed for the first time in front of a live audience. The select few students and Prefects who performed the Haka did a fantastic job, expressing great passion and energy!

The most anticipated item of the evening was who would be crowned ‘Performer of the Year’ for the Middle School and Senior School. An exceptional programme is only made possible by the dedication of students, which made the decision this year extremely difficult. But two students stood out – Joshua Douglas and Melody Lui-Webster.

Both students met the criteria being; they had lead roles or leadership in Arts performances, received significant Performing Arts awards, and represented Saint Kentigern at a regional, national and/or international level.

It was a fabulous evening, offering a mix of entertainment while awarding those students who have dedicated many mornings, lunchtimes and evening hours to the arts. Congratulations to the students who received awards and for their efforts and resilience during this challenging year.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR 2020
Joshua Douglas

Joshua is a highly skilled dance student with a talent that is so beautifully refined - he is mesmerising to watch. His outstanding achievements this year include the Dance Showcase, performing in the Hip Hop Dance Troupe, Jazz Dance Troupe, Lyrical Dance Troupe and becoming the winner of 2020 SKC’s Got Talent. It was with his performance at SKC’s Got Talent where Joshua stood out with his exceptional courage. He is bold, brave and has charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. Well done Joshua.

SENIOR SCHOOL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR 2020
Melody Lui-Webster

Melody is a formidable performer and entertainer. She is highly skilled across all the Performing Arts strands including, Music, Dance and Drama. She is professional, determined and humble. Her level of involvement is extensive and she will never turn down any chance to perform. Here is a snapshot of her achievements this year: 

-Choreographer for Wearable Arts Showcase 
-In the contemporary Dance Academy and Jazz/Hip Hop Troupe, Jazz Troupe and leader and dancer for Tap Troupe 
-Sitting Trinity exams to Level 6 in both Acting and Musical Theatre 
-Senior Leader for Middle School Drama Club 
-Involved as a choreographer and dancer for 6 dances for Dance Showcase  
-Singer for Jazz Combo  
-Singer for Big Band 
-Choir member in Kentoris 
-Finalist in the Talent Quest 
-Sitting Year 13 Drama Scholarship Exam 
-Member of Chapel Band 
-Winner of Senior School Solo Music competition 
-Played the leading role of Velma Kelly in Chicago 
Well done Melody.

2020 AWARDS WINNERS:
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Issac Waldin
Outstanding Contribution to Drama: Oliver Evans
Outstanding Contribution to Dance: Georgia Fulford

SENIOR SCHOOL
Most Improved Pipes and Drums Player: Nicholas Berry
Maori and Pasifika Cup: Selena Agaimalo
The Welsh Cup for Band Music: Sam Ou
The Jack Morris Cup for Jazz Performance: Kevin Shen
The Olney Choir Cup: Ivan Zhang
The Nelson Lam Cup for Orchestral Music: Wendy Ni
The Tyne Contemporary Music Cup: Ben Humphries 
The Most Improved Musician of the Year: Thomas Joyce
The Boyd Cup for Excellence in Music Performance: Ian Chiao
The Pollock Shield for Outstanding Contribution to Music: Catherine Chang

DRAMA
The Leman Cup for Excellence in Drama Performance: Christie Martel
The Bard Cup: Connor Parr
The Most Improved Dramatist of the Year: Anya Kemp
James Wenley Cup for Outstanding Contribution to Drama: Anya Kemp
The Theatresports Cup: Peter Wallace

DANCE
The Monet Galea-Hewitt Cup for Most Improved Dancer of the Year: Lulu Denholm
The Rochelle Craig Cup for Outstanding Contribution to Dance: Hayley Adams
The Tempo Dance Cup for Best Choreography: Hayley Adams
Excellence in Dance Performance: Ruby Ryburn

PERFORMING ARTS
The Chadderton Family Drama Production Cup: Esther Schubert
The Dance Production Cup: Scarlett Jacques
The Music Drama Cup: Melody Lui-Webster
The Production Cup: Alex Facer
The Jane Horder Cup: Adam Perry

 Click here to view the gallery.