Competition time: RockQuest

Competition The first three weeks of June are always an incredibly busy time for all our students involved in nationwide TIME competitions. Kicking off with RockQuest at the beginning of June, we were thrilled with the results across all disciplines.

ROCKQUEST THREE OUT OF THREE

Lift band

Dio has featured strongly in RockQuest in recent years, but when a number of band members graduated last year, we were unsure about what we would see in 2019. Despite our concerns, we were thrilled to have three bands participate in RockQuest, the national song-writing and live performance competition. From Year 10 we had two bands enter: KamoKaze (an electro-funk inspired keyboard-based band) and Mishka (featuring a more alternative pop sound). Year 9 rock band Lift featured last year in BandQuest, the intermediate competition, and made their 2019 debut at RockQuest with two new players.

In term one, all three bands worked hard to finish writing a song and developing their performance skills. At the Auckland Central heats in May, the bands played very well and stood out for their originality and unique sound. The placings at the national final were announced at the conclusion of the performances and the first two slots went to Lift and Mishka. After a nail-biting wait, the final band to be announced was KamoKaze! Dio had three bands through to the regional finals from three entries! We have never had such strong performances by our Junior High School bands, and to have three entries proceed to the finals was also a first!

For the finals, the bands had to each write and polish a new song – in just three weeks! Although this was very challenging, the girls did a wonderful job of producing quality pieces that they performed superbly in front of a large and supportive crowd. To top off a great evening, Mishka’s Mia Reid was chosen for the Best Vocals award.

Dio’s RockQuest bands are: Lift – Aimee Schnuriger, Victoria Wright, Olivia Turnbull, Olivia Smithies and Grace Wellington. KamoKaze – Lucia Partigliani, Amelia Lockley, Emma Parton and Riya Raniga. Mishka – Jasmine Soakai, Grace Field, Mia Reid, Sophia Winstanley, Kika Brethouwer and Alyssa Callander.

In the solos and duos category of RockQuest, we had our largest ever group of entries. Performing original songs as a soloist can be a daunting experience, especially when the material is often very personal. Again, our Junior High girls performed superbly. Tyler Butler and duo See Through (Alex Graney and Pascale Vincent) performed with confidence and expression. Senior performers Sabreen Islam, Grace David, Gracie Scragg and Olivia Luxon each presented unique and highly engaging pieces. Gracie Scragg was chosen for the Best Lyrics award with her impassioned song about the Christchurch attacks.

In Term 3, the focus goes on to our Year 7 and 8 bands at BandQuest. We look forward to seeing more new musical talent coming through our band programmes.

Mishka band Kamokaze band

Mia with Jasmine and Grace

Mia Reid

NZCM Awards Ceremony – Emma Qiu, Esther Oh, Sharon Hung, Rebecca He, Jacqui Li, Matilda Hol, Helen Kim, Hannah Barber-Wilson

NZCT Chamber Music Competition Three more major awards

Thirty-two girls were involved in the NZCT Chamber Music Competition at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre. All our groups did Dio proud, competing across the region against 90 other ensembles.

As usual, Dio had some exceptional results and broke another record – five groups with Dio students involved made it through to the semi-finals. We were also the best represented school in the region with 12 Dio musicians performing at the semi-finals. At the awards ceremony, Dio groups were thrilled to come away with three of the top awards this year: Aquarelle won the NZ Award (Best performance of a New Zealand work) Trinitas won the KBB Special Award Ronesma Trio won the Highly Commended Award

Ronesma Trio went on to perform superbly at the University of Auckland, slogging it out amongst the top 36 in the country for a place with the final 12 groups at the finale in August.

As the regional winners of the NZ Award, our Aquarelle octet had the honour of performing at the Town Hall as part of a premiere performance in Auckland of the newly commissioned work by New Zealand composer Ben Hoadley. Ben explained his inspiration for our Dio commission: “Aquarelle I & II – these two vignettes were inspired by the beautiful transparent watercolours of New Zealand artist Carol Readman, who creates delicate yet vivid works. This ancient technique of aquarelle painting is often realised in only one short sitting – this was both an inspiration and a challenge for me as a composer, and I have tried to capture the capricious nature in these pieces with a similar feeling of free form, simplicity and outbursts of colour within the soundscape. It has been exciting to explore the timbres of the mallet percussion and the unique sound of the hand-bells in combination with the strings to create pellucid textures with splashes of colour.”

St Cecilia Singers

Big Sing regionals leads to the National Finale again

Bella Cantoris Once again, Dio choristers excelled at the Big Sing Gala Concert in the Auckland Town Hall. Of distinct note was how upbeat and engaged the girls’ performance was. There were some very special performances by Year 13 students Hannah Barber-Wilson and Doris Dong, both of whom conducted and accompanied our Year 9/10 Bella Cantoris choir. This was part of an initiative for their IB Diploma CAS project. The girls finished their beautiful song to rapturous applause, with Doris and Hannah acknowledging each other and the choir on stage with a hug. It was delightful to see this student-led initiative and the authentic way they engaged the crowd. Choristers and directors alike can feel justly proud of the huge efforts that went into developing such a rich and diverse choral culture here at Dio.

Dio choirs achieved the following accolades: St Cecilia Singers – Distinction (directed by Rachel Sutherland). For the seventh consecutive year, the St Cecilia Singers have been selected for the National Finale. Along with the top 24 choirs from around the country, they will compete for gold, silver and bronze awards in Dunedin later in August. Senior Choir – Highly Commended (directed by Rachel Sutherland), selected as a Cadenza Finale Choir to perform in Rotorua. Bella Cantoris – Commended (directed by Lachlan Craig), Runner-up Best Junior Choir (Years 9/10), selected as a Cadenza Finale Choir (Rotorua).

Concerto and Aria Competitions

Aria winners Aria finialists

Junior Concerto finialists

In the last week of Term 2, the brightest and best of our vocal and instrumental talent again battled it out in the highclass competition that has become an annual ‘fest of the best’ here at Diocesan.

We were treated to two amazing evenings of singing and instrumental performances, and it was a very glamorous and emotionally charged occasion for all these young, aspiring musicians.

With the addition of the junior category in both events, the first round saw the panel select from more than 70 auditionees, 20 vocal and 24 instrumental finalists, with a dozen different instruments represented.

The JHS girls in both Concerto and Aria treated us to some very stylish, moving and remarkably mature performances; everyone in the audience was hugely supportive of these younger performers. The older girls tackled some top-end repertoire with mature interpretations of operatic arias and instrumental concertos. The artistry and talent on display was remarkable.

Another treat during the evening was a solo from Dio Old Girl Libby Johnston who now studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. It was clear to all just how far she has advanced.

This competition gets tougher each year as our instrumental and vocal programmes in the Junior School feed through amazingly talented musicians. We feel privileged to witness the obvious dedication and commitment required to achieve at such a high level, from the performers and the work behind the scenes by their music teachers.

The adjudicators, Dr Richard Lui, lecturer in piano at the University of Auckland, and Ms Andrea Creighton, internationally renowned opera singer and vocal clinician at Monash University in Melbourne, both had very difficult jobs choosing the winners of each category from the finalists. ARIA WINNERS Senior 1st prize – Cheilin Xu 2nd prize – Hannah Flacks 3rd prize – Hazel Francis Most Promising Soloist – Rina Nair Junior Years 7/8 – Amanda Yu Years 9/10 – 1st prize Keltie-Kewan Young. 2nd prize – Hattie Johnston. 3rd prize – Sarah Oldham Most Promising Soloist – Arabella Tuck

CONCERTO WINNERS Senior Overall instrumental winner – Sharon Hung Violin cup – Anna Casey Brass cup – Jessica Marshall Woodwind cup – Hannah Barber-Wilson Viola cup – Rebecca He Flute cup – Helen Kim Piano cup – Emma Qiu Junior Overall instrumental winner – Elise Ji 2nd place – Bella-Rose Mountford 3rd place – Hannah Wellington Junior Piano cup – Sunny Zhang

Senior Concerto finialists