Arts News Term 3, Week 4

Chamber Choir off to the Big Sing Cadenza

All the best to our travelling choristers representing SMC. Our Chamber Choir will head south to Timaru for the annual Big Sing Cadenza, where they will participate in competitions, workshops and a gala performance over three days.
What a marvellous opportunity for all 24 students travelling to get more performance experience under their belt. We wish them all the best as the #takethefloor.

A huge thanks again to the staff involved: Rachel Wilford, our Choir Director; Amanda Woods (Head of Music) and Margaret Jack (supporting the team on Obeo!) for all your support. 

Congratulations to Jazzband on their success at Southern Jam

Congratulations to our wonderful Jazz Band, which attended Southern Jam last week. A massive thank you to Amanda Woods, our Jazz legend, Lana Law and Chris Walker for supporting the girls over the four days.  

St Margaret’s was awarded ‘Most Promising Jazz Band’ for the festival; the girls were amazing ambassadors for SMC and attracted positive attention for their generosity and support of others.

THEATREFEST
Congratulations to the cast of Ōtautahi Rocks', a new play written by Ruth Agnew, who had outstanding success at the Local TheatreFest competition on the 4th of August. This success means that the group moves on to the Upper South Island Regional Festival, which will be held at Rangi Ruru this weekend, Sunday 18th of August at 2pm. What an achievement!

This wonderful group of young women won: 

Distinction Award for Best Drama

Distinction Award for Overall Design 

Excellence Ensemble Award

Playmarket Award for Best NZ Play - Ruth Agnew as playwright

Magic Moment Award for Deathly Stillness 

Distinction Award Best Overall James Hay Memorial Trophy 

That was a huge achievement, especially given the high standard of entries this year. Our teenage cast took top honours over adult casts from established community theatre groups and two plays with casts of drama teachers who dabble in professional acting, stand-up comedy, and improvisation. The adjudicator praised the students' timing, use of stage space, and vocal work. 

The Cast:
Tina Xu
Emily Davis
Harriet Thorp
CJay (India) Horey
Rhea Wallace
Bridget Rooney
Kylana Peauafi Symonds

Featuring the voices of:
Emily Chambers
Caitlin Ching 

Please join us in supporting our team at the Upper South Island Regional Festival this Sunday, 18th August, at 2pm at Rangi Ruru Girls School Merivale Lane Theatre.  

Tickets are $10 students, $15 Concession and $20 Adult 

Seating is not allocated.

Bookings are not required. All tickets are available from the box office, which will be open 45 minutes before each session. 

Cash or eftpos only. No credit cards.

Break a leg to this wonderful group of students.

Thank you so much to Ruth Agnew and Megan Herd for supporting this group of students in their creative pursuits.

MUSIC FESTIVAL SUCCESS
Every year the Christchurch Music Festival selects the very best singers and musicians for the Representative Groups. This is an audition process and means that students can work with amazing tutors, conductors and other students from across Ōtautahi. 

Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for: 

Senior Representative Choir:
Caitlin Ching (Year 7)
Cordelia Jones (Year 7)

Symphony Orchestra:
Olivia Guan - violin (Year 5)
Julia Nguyen - violin (Year 7)
Kathy Gai - violin (Year 8)

The Christchurch Music Festival is an annual event over four nights in October. St Margaret’s will also have Year 5 - 7 students performing on the 22nd of October. We look forward to more outstanding musical performances from SMC students.

https://musicfestival.school.nz/ 

DANCE SHOWCASE

We are excited to promote our annual Dance Showcase, which will take place on Saturday, the 31st of August. 

This evening will celebrate NCEA and IB dance choreographies, as well as students from our wide range of co-curricular middle and senior school dance groups #takingthefloor to showcase their hard work from the year. A range of student-led, guest and teacher-led choreography will be on display. 

Please join us on Saturday, 31st of August, in the Charles Luney Auditorium at 7pm—free general admission. 

COLLECTIVE CABARET

The Arts Council is excited to present a Collective Cabaret on Tuesday 3rd of September. All students are welcome to #takethefloor with performance items in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre between 3:45 - 5pm. 

If you are interested in signing up, please email jonesa@stmargarets.school.nz