Christine Jeon (Year 12), one of the most accomplished musicians to have attended St Andrew’s College, is leaving at the end of the school year to study cello at Auckland University. This will hopefully be the first step towards a successful international career, she says. “My goal at the moment is to go to Europe to study and learn the history and culture of classical music, while my greatest aspiration is to become a cellist who travels the world, sharing my music with many people.”

Christine already has a glittering array of musical accomplishments. These include being awarded first prize at the 2023 National Young Performer Awards; winning the New Zealand Chamber Music Contest in 2021; winning third prize and the People’s Choice Award at the 2022 National String Competition, along with the Strings Open Age category at the Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival. In 2023, Christine was second in the American Virtuoso International Music Competition, which gave her the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall in the USA. This year, she also performed a stunning solo in the Young Artist Showcase with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at the Michael Fowler Centre; staged a solo cello recital in the Great Hall as part of the Rising Stars Recital Series; and won an Inspire Scholarship.

Christine joined St Andrew’s on a Music Scholarship, and says she is ‘grateful and privileged’ for the support of the College. “Attending St Andrew’s has been my biggest pride and joy and I am so grateful to have been part of this bright, inclusive community. Without the support of my teachers and friends, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve the things I have. St Andrew’s has not only supported me as a musician, but also shaped me to become a stronger and more determined person who also knows how to enjoy each moment.”