Arts News Term 2, Week 8

‘Behind the Scenes: A Peek into our Senior Artists’ Studio’

Mrs Lucy Mackie interviews Senior Art students, Annabel Allen and Madison Ashworth.

St Margaret’s College Visual Arts students are quiet, unassuming, sparkling diamonds. You have to delve deep into the art rooms of GV Block to find these dazzling specimens, and they are usually labouring tirelessly over a piece of art that often takes weeks or months to create. They work away quietly all year, only coming up for air when we ask them to turn their work in, or for an interview for the newsletter. 

This week, I sat down with two of our talented senior art students. Madi Ashworth is in Y13 and is taking NCEA Level 3 Photography, Painting and Printmaking - The Trifecta. 

And Annabel Allen is also in Y13 and taking Painting at NCEA Level 3. They are both passionate creators and so it was fitting to take 5 minutes with each of them to discuss their process and commitment to the Visual Arts.

I asked Madi how she typically begins a new artwork. She explained how she usually “finds an artist model and then a reference image. Then I decide the size and medium I want to paint or print etc. Then it’s canvas prep, image transfer and…start painting or creating.” 

As already mentioned, Madi juggles several art subjects so I asked her how she manages to keep them all progressing at the same time. 

“I try to use each specific subject time to work and focus on that subject. I personally like to focus on one painting or print in each subject at a time. I won’t start anything new until the previous work is finished. It is a lot but it’s just being aware of being on top of it. Sometimes it’s easy to fall behind, so I try to keep up the momentum.” It’s only under extreme pressure that the greatest diamonds are formed.

Artmaking is not always easy. Sometimes there is a lot of pressure to complete work to the best standard. I asked Madi what she does when the pressure gets too much and she’s not ‘vibing’ with an artwork. "Sometimes I take a break and think about why I am struggling on that piece. I will do something smaller and more manageable to get myself motivated and inspired to achieve.”

Annabel agrees that there can be challenging phases to making art. She explained how at the start of this year, she struggled a little with the step up to NCEA Level 3 and noticed that the time away from painting (over Summer) made it hard to start again. She wondered “why isn’t it feeling like last year? Where’s my groove?” Annabel acknowledges that “every artwork has a challenging part so I have to work through the tricky bits to get to what I enjoy.” She has focused her work on London as a subject matter. “I’ve never been, but I have family there, and I love the architecture. Maybe I might visit next year or in the future.”

The challenges of Visual Art still can’t compete with the rewards it offers. Both students talk so happily about their work and I can see their eyes light up when they are working on an artwork and solving the puzzle in front of them. Annabel says that, “when I see I have Art on my timetable, I’m super excited. I’ll get my gear out quickly and put on my apron. I put on my headphones and get into the rhythm of relaxing and making. I will paint right up until the bell goes and the time seems to just disappear.”

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have,” Maya Angelou. 

Madi also loves how much of her week at school is about being creative. When I asked her what she loves most about the senior art room, she said, “having your own space within the senior art area. It’s more like a university set-up. We have nearly free-range access to the materials and can come in at any time and continue to work on a project.” 

Annabel agrees, remarking,  “I like having our own space and it's also so different from every other class. I can switch my brain off a little, even though I am still using it! Being able to come in whenever and being surrounded by others who are creative, helps to inspire me.”

St Margaret’s College Visual Art students achieve tremendous success in NCEA and IB, with many of our students going on to pursue exciting and rewarding careers in the Visual Arts. We are very proud of the work that they produce, and the hours that they spend working away to reveal a glistening creation at the end. Many thanks to Annabel and Madi for offering us a glimpse of their sparkling creations.

ADD PHOTOS WHERE MOST APPROPRIATE

MUSIC
The Big Sing - The Chamber Choir, made up of 36 students from all year groups, performed at the Big Sing on 6 June. The girls worked hard over the term in preparation for this contest. The Choir performed three songs beautifully on the Town Hall stage, competing against other school choirs from around the region. All songs were contrasting, and the final one also had movement, actions and white gloves, which looked very effective onstage. The Judges commented on their blended sound and lovely phrasing. Some of the girls joined forces with students from Christ’s College to perform as Concordia Cantores. They then sang again at the evening Gala Finale performance, accompanied by Hsing-Yin Lin.

RockQuest FINAL
The Spoons (Ivy Mehrtens, Mae Wilkinson, Phoebe Jones and Chloe Drinkwater) made it to the Final and performed against some tough competition. The atmosphere was electric, the crowd energetic, and the girls acted as true rock stars. After deliberation, the girls came away with 3rd place, which was an amazing achievement. 

From Chloe’s perspective - 
Rockquest is an annual competition held in regions across New Zealand. It is a brilliant opportunity for bands, duos and solos of all genres to showcase their talent and take the spotlight. St Margaret’s College had many girls compete in the Rockquest Regional Heats. We, The Spoons, managed to play our way to the top 16 bands, allowing us to progress to the regional finals held at Canterbury University. We all felt a few nerves while waiting in the wings, but once we got on stage, we had a blast! The energy at the finals was high, and the support from the crowd was unmatched. This was a fantastic opportunity for The Spoons to play in front of an upbeat crowd. We had such a great time and picked up many tips from watching other bands. The Spoons placed third and were given judges' discretion to submit a video of three original songs to qualify for the National competition. We are all so grateful for this opportunity and are looking forward to participating in Rockquest again in future years. We very much recommend giving Rockquest a go; it is an extraordinary event that helps develop many musical skills and connections. 

DANCE
IT’S…SHOWQUEST!

Yr 8 students, all 52 of them, took part in Showquest last week, performing a theatrical piece about Artificial Intelligence resulting in the following awards:

Excellence in Art (costumes and props)

Excellence in Technology (LED screen) 

Winner of the award for Public Speaking - congratulations to Emily Herd and Morgan  Lowe. 

An ‘award’ was also announced by Ms Goldsworthy for Yr 8 behaviour, which was impeccable throughout the very long day.

Caitlin Cooper and Cordelia Jones’s experience.
We went to Showquest on Thursday, the 12th of June, and it was such an amazing experience! Cordelia played Mario, and Caitlin played the role of Luigi in our piece about technology and how it affects childhood play. We arrived at school around 7:20 am. and met in the dance room to discuss what the day would look like with the teachers. Our dress rehearsal was at 8:30, so we arrived at the town hall around 8:00 am. We were the first school to arrive. Then, we got a briefing from one of the staff members, and after that, we collected our wristbands. We managed to fit in a couple of run-throughs at the dress rehearsal before it was the next school's turn. 

We then had a lot of time before lunch, so we decided to watch some of the other dress rehearsals. It was very interesting and fun to see what we would be up against. The production party was at 12:40 pm, where all of the schools got to perform their school chants and see who was loudest. During the production party, the host also revealed what order we would be doing our performances. We were going 5th out of 6 performances. After that, there was a silent disco to have some fun and bond with other schools. For the rest of the afternoon, we alternated between watching dress rehearsals and the silent disco. For dinner, the teachers ordered pizza for all of the students. 

At 7:00 pm, the show officially started, so we were all very excited,even though we had to wait about half an hour before we went onstage. When we were onstage performing what we had worked for since the end of last year, it was very nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time. We did an excellent job, and Jody [Ye] was amazing as the blurb reader. Emily and Morgan also did very well at answering questions. Stacy did an amazing job guiding us through the journey of Showquest. It took up a lot of her time, and she was always there for us, cheering us on. Showquest was an amazing opportunity, and we really hope that St Margaret’s keeps up the amazing work in Showquest for years to come.

TACTIX PERFORMANCE
On Sunday, 15th, the Senior Dance Company had the exciting opportunity to join the Theatre Dance Academy Company Kids in a special performance during the Tactix halftime show. It was a fantastic experience for everyone involved and a wonderful chance to share their talents with the wider community. A heartfelt thank you to Rylie McGibbon for her inspiring choreography. Our students performed with passion, energy, and professionalism — we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them!

DRAMA
SENIOR SCHOOL PRODUCTION

The students participating in the Ash Girl are finalising their lines, trying on their costumes and practising their moves. The floor is down, the lighting states are set and the props are being painted and sprayed…

Here are a few insights into some of the roles. An interview with Emily Davis, Georgia Matthews and Chloe Drinkwater.

What character are you playing, and how would you describe them?

I have the privilege of playing Ash Girl in this year’s Senior School Production. Ash Girl is a complex character, hurt by her past she goes through life searching for meaning. Her vulnerabilities prevent her from living life to its fullest leaving her in a cycle of self-destruction. (EMILY)

I am playing the owl, she is a very kind, wise, and helpful character, she is a good friend of Ashgirls, and wants what's best for her. (GEORGIA)

I am playing the character of Slothworm, one of the deadly sins. Contrary to the clearly exhausted nature indicated by his name, I believe that Slothworm is an internally driven creature that thrives on human belittling. However, it is challenging for Slothworm to outwardly display this determined desire for destruction, as he is a victim of his own sin of sloth, something he cannot escape. This unfortunate reality has compelled Slothworm to slither his weighted cloak of drought over humans’ shoulders. Giving Slothworm an unbeatable motivation to lock his apathy into innocent victims. (CHLOE)

What’s been the most challenging part of portraying your character?

Although Ash Girl is a character with a more negative outlook on life it is important to display the themes of hope and surreal happiness within her personality. Intertwining these traits within lines that express a great level of sorrow is quite difficult. However, doing this is essential in order to portray an equal amount of sadness as well as other underlying emotions that are essential to add depth to her character. (EMILY)

I think the most challenging part of portraying my character is learning how to walk and move like an owl, because I can’t seem to get it quite right, so I might need to practice a wee bit more. (GEORGIA)

As Slothworm is not in human form, finding ways to move and express his character has been challenging. However, this has been a fun challenge to overcome and has led to creative solutions that build the intensity and character of Slothworm on the stage. I believe this detailed analysis of all characters’ movements has added to the deep and layered dynamics of The Ash Girl. (CHLOE)

What’s your favourite line or scene, and why?

My favourite scene would probably be the final scene, because it is done in a very beautiful way, and everyone gets to be in it. (GEORGIA)

My favourite scene in The Ash Girl is when the Deadly Sins first meet in the forest. I enjoy this scene because it is different to any you may have seen before, and unveils the profound meanings and depth behind the play. It is not only entertaining to watch, but it also demonstrates common human doubts in physical form, causing the audience to reflect on the messages from the stage and bring those thoughts to their own lives. 

(CHLOE)

What’s it like working with the rest of the cast and crew?

It is very fun working with the cast and crew of the show, because we all get along very well, and everyone is so good at what they do. We always end up laughing. (GEORGIA)

Working with the rest of the cast and crew has been such a fabulous experience. It has been amazing to see each person’s character grow throughout rehearsals to reach the great level that they are now. Everyone is supportive of each other's creative ideas, and encouragement spreads far across the stage. (CHLOE)

How does it feel to perform in front of an audience?

It feels very scary and daunting, but it’s ok once you are up there and talking. (GEORGIA)

Have you discovered any new strengths or skills?

This production has allowed me to strengthen and build many skills. One of them is creating a character that is not human, but has thoughts and desires similar to humans. Learning and finding effective ways to do this has improved my physical movement in drama skills, and has forced me to think outside the normal methods of movement on stage. I have also had the opportunity to learn about how set changes and backstage work can be executed efficiently, and the importance of this to the production. (CHLOE)

SENIOR ARTS COUNCIL
Term 2 is coming to a thrilling end in the SMC arts world. All of the arts girls have caught their own wave, whether it be performing in Showquest, being a part of the upcoming Senior Production, or working behind the scenes to make some exciting arts events come to life. 

On the 12th of June, the talented year 8 cohort, accompanied by Stacy Goldsworthy, Ms Mayne and Ms Godfrey-Chatterton, took the stage at Showquest. Their amazing performance enabled them to walk away with a multitude of awards. These included an award for Excellence in Art (costumes and props), Excellence in Technology (LED screen) and the Winners of the Public Speaking Award. I am personally very proud of these girls as it must have been very scary to go up on that stage and compete against other schools. I know that they did an absolutely awesome performance and should be so incredibly proud of their achievements. Their eager spirit and true passion for the arts are something that I am forever inspired by and believe is something that we should all incorporate into our lives.   

The fabulous cast of the Ash Girl is working incredibly hard in preparation for the show week from the 24th to the 26th of June. This show is brought to you under the direction of the amazingly talented Helen Moran. As a part of this cast myself, it is so exciting to be able to watch the show evolve through all the hard work that everyone involved puts in. I am absolutely amazed to see how brilliant all of the SMC girls truly are. They shine on stage. Ash Girl is a show that retells the classic fairytale of Cinderella, but with a captivating twist. It is sure to catch you on the edge of your seat and you can watch our skilled actors and dancers take to the stage. 

The dedicated work from these girls doesn’t stop there. Preparations are already underway for next term. Our Senior Arts Council has an endless array of fun ideas for events, which will hopefully take flight in the coming weeks and next term. We were very privileged to have our wonderful Head of Dance this year, Hollie Cudd, start us off with an open contemporary dance workshop. The girls learned a powerful combo to a Gracie Abrams song. This turned out to be such a hit that we have been assured that many more classes like these will be coming soon! It is so heartwarming to see girls embracing their passions in the arts and getting involved wherever they can. I know that I speak for many of the year 13s this year when I say that we are so lucky to have had all of the opportunities available to us here at SMC and we encourage you to do as much as you can.  

We also have very creative ideas emerging from within the Middle School. The Middle School Arts committee are working hard towards a Middle School (Year 7 and 8) Talent Show, taking place early next term. These girls are such resilient, passionate and kind members of the arts community and it has been a privilege to be able to work alongside them to help make these ideas a reality. They are currently working on a super fun way to kick off the show with a bang. From just seeing what they have created for the first time last week, I am so proud of how well these girls have leapt into their roles and it is so cool to watch their creativity spark. They work together so well and are perfect examples of what it looks like to be a member of the SMC arts world. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this year will bring! 

Lily Griffiths (Head of Middle School Arts) 

CELEBRATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Nova Gainsford, Year 12, on achieving her PACANZ (Performing Arts Competitions Association of NZ) nomination for dance. We look forward to seeing her achievements in September.

SGCNZ Essay Writing Competition
Juliet Young, Yr 10, who was 1st in her category for the National Shakespeare Essay Writing Competition. She wrote a short story that had to include 20 Shakespearean quotes from his plays, poems or sonnets.  Sneha Datla, Yr 12, was placed 2nd in her category, she wrote an essay on the play Twelfth Night.  Congratulations to both of these students for this outstanding achievement. 

Speech & Drama Results

Grade 5 Module 1
Audrey Sun HONOURS
Gabrielle Hutton MERIT PLUS
Charli Forman MERIT PLUS
Daisy Coop HONOURS PLUS

Grade 6 Module 3 Communication
Juliet Young HONOURS PLUS
Grace Millar HONOURS PLUS
Sophie Eccleton HONOURS PLUS
Sofia Tivers HONOURS

Grade 6 Module 3 Literature
Emily Monks MERIT PLUS
Grade 7 Module 3 Literature
Isla Rea MERIT PLUS

Advanced Certificate Theatre in Action
Claudia Lassen HONOURS PLUS
Georgie Campbell HONOURS PLUS
Madeleine Coughlan HONOURS PLUS
Hannah Millar HONOURS PLUS

Certificate in Professional Speaking
Qiaoyu Guan DISTINCTION
Esther Hwangbo DISTINCTION
Shan Ju DISTINCTION

Advanced Associate Diploma - Teaching Speech & Drama Practical Module One
Anna Qiu DISTINCTION
Sophie Symons-Edwards DISTINCTION

Advanced Associate Diploma - Teaching Speech & Drama Theory Credit One
Anna Qiu DISTINCTION
Sophie Symons-Edwards MERIT

ASB Performance Diploma 
Claudia Lassen HONOURS PLUS
Georgie Campbell HONOURS PLUS

The Lions Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival auditions 

Several SMC students auditioned for a representative group in the Music Festival recently. Out of 300 students across Canterbury who auditioned for one of the 4 groups, these students were accepted:

Julia Nguyen - Orchestra
Melvena Geng - Orchestra
Olivia Guan - Orchestra
Shevonne Bohlin - Senior Choir
Stacey Zhou - Senior Chor
Zara Bristed - Senior Choir
Caitlin Ching - Senior Choir
Miu Miu Young - Concert Band     

THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING…OPPORTUNITIES!

Showbiz Christchurch is excited to offer an exceptional opportunity for both teachers and students to learn from one of Aotearoa’s most esteemed performers and educators — Jennifer Ward-Lealand CNZM — during a full day of workshops hosted by Showbiz Christchurch on Sunday, 29 June.

This is a valuable professional development opportunity for teachers, directors, and vocal coaches, while also being a transformative experience for senior students looking to take their craft to the next level.

 Workshop Details:

 1. Working in the Intimate Zone

An essential workshop for those directing or staging scenes involving intimacy. Jennifer introduces best-practice tools to ensure such work is handled with care, clarity, and repeatability.

Recommended for teachers, student directors, senior drama students (16+) and anyone working in a creative leadership role.

Tickets: Showbiz Member $20 | Non-member $30

 2. Flying Solo: Vocal Masterclass 

A rare opportunity to observe or participate in a masterclass led by Jennifer, focusing on musical theatre performance.

Participants receive individual coaching on their chosen song, with a focus on storytelling, vocal connection, and character.

Suitable for senior students, tertiary-level performers, and teachers seeking vocal coaching insights they can take back to the studio or classroom.

Participant: Member $45 | Non-member $55

Observer: Member $15 | Non-member $20

Observer capacity is limited to 80. Only 9 participant slots are available. 

All sessions are open to ages 16+ and are ideal for teachers wishing to claim Professional Development hours. This is a chance to observe or engage in coaching practice with one of the country’s leading arts educators and intimacy coordinators.

We’ve attached a poster and social tile to share with your networks or display in your department. Whether you’re attending yourself, encouraging a talented student, or bringing a small group, we’d love to have you involved.

Register and find more information at:showbiz.org.nz/workshops

Performing Arts Workshops SEE BELOW

https://www.voicesco.nz/singwithus/?mc_cid=8feafdddfc&mc_eid=UNIQID

"All Eyes On Me" is a jukebox musical featuring songs by Bo Burnham. It is written and directed by the exceptionally talented Year 12 student, James Howey, who also plays the lead role.

Seven shows are to be held at the Auripo Auditorium at Hagley College during the school holidays:

Saturday 28th June at 7.30 pm

Monday 30th June at 7.30 pm

Saturday 5th July at 7.30 pm

Tuesday 8th July at 7.30 pm

Thursday 10th July at 7.30 pm

Saturday 12th July matinee at 2 pm and an evening performance at 7.30 pm.

The story follows the journey of Robert, a man grappling with bipolar disorder as he navigates love, loss, and self-discovery. It is a raw and emotional exploration of mental health, highlighting the complexities of living with bipolar disorder, the impact of personal loss, and the quest for redemption and self-understanding.

All proceeds will be donated to Te Tahi Youth, a youth mental health organisation. Ticket prices are a gold coin donation, and another gold coin is used for programmes (higher donations are also accepted).

All tickets can be booked through https://events.humanitix.com/all-eyes-on-me.

Director/Writer: James Howey

Assistant Director: Alistair Bean

Music Director/Production Manager: Nanako Sato

Choreographer: Ellie Busfield

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