Cultural catch up – May 2025

Late 2024*

* Please note the use of 2024 year groups.

Ballet Production – The Nutcracker

The St Andrew’s College Ballet Academy proudly presented The Nutcracker as its production for 2024 – the first Ballet production to take place in the Gough Family Theatre in the new Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre.

Audiences over the four performances in late November were enchanted by the show’s beautiful performances, magical storytelling, and unforgettable music. Set on Christmas Eve, the story began at a festive holiday party where young Clara receives a special gift – a nutcracker doll. That night, as the clock strikes midnight, Clara is swept into an adventure where the Nutcracker comes to life, leading her on a journey through a battle with the Rat King and into the dazzling Land of Sweets.

Under the guidance of Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Director Dr Carolyn Cairns, the talent of dancers from all year levels shone through this timeless holiday classic. Audiences thoroughly enjoyed the beauty and excitement of this ballet, the graceful and elegant dancers, and the stunning costumes on stage.

2024

Ballet

Tavé Stuart (Year 12) competed in the National Young Performer Awards (NYPA) making it to the semi-final, finishing in the top 16 out of 75 of the best 15–21-year-old ballerinas in the country.

Siara Clarke (Year 13), Tavé Stuart (Year 12), Femke McLean (Year 10) and Cameron Lyons (Year 9), qualified to compete at the NZAMD National Ballet Scholarship Awards. Both Tavé and Cameron progressed to the finals (out of eight selected) and Tavé was awarded first place.

Ballroom Dancing

At the Aotearoa New Zealand Ballroom Dancing Championships, Holly Hembry (Year 9) competed in 13 events, securing 12 first places and one second place.

Highland Dancing

At the Hororata Highland Games Highland Dancing Competition, dancers achieved the following results:

• Nayana Abrahamson (Year 2): Champion 6 Years and Under; Champion U8 years;

• Sofia Sneddon (Year 7): Champion U12 years;

• Sarah McCarthy (Year 9): Champion U14 years.

Georgia Gregg (Year 7) won Most Points U14 and Most Points of the Day at the Amberley Show, and U12 Most Points and U12 Irish Jig at the Greymouth Highland Dance Competition.

Ruby Bradbury (Year 2) won Most Points U8 at the Amberley A&P Show and Most Points U8 and U10 at the Pleasant Point Show.

Music

The following students were accepted into the 2025 New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra (NZSSSO):

• Jasmine Hooker (Year 12) – Principal cello;

• Miu Kim (Year 12) – Principal flute;

• Cheryl Teng (Year 10) – part of first violin;

• Ary Son (Year 10) – viola;

• Xinyi (Alicia) Chen (Year 10) – viola;

• Yuxin (Alice) Chen (Year 10) – French horn;

• Ethan Waines (Year 8) – French horn.

Ethan Waines was also one of four soloists performing a movement in Vivaldi’s Concerto for 4 Violins with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at the February 2025 Mitre 10 Sparks event in Hagley Park.

Chenxiao Leo Yang (Year 7) showcased his talent performing in The Rising Stars concert, held in the Great Hall in the Arts Centre, a performance which captivated the audience throughout. Ethan Waines (Year 8) and his younger brother, Caleb, also presented an outstanding recital of piano works, playing both individual and duet pieces.

Pipe Band

Arthur Rodgers Memorial Piobaireachd

On Sunday 20 October, the Pipe Band hosted the inaugural Arthur Rodgers Memorial Piobaireachd Competition in the Senior College for current St Andrew’s students in memory of Arthur Rodgers’ contribution to the Pipe Band as a parent, grandparent, and former Band Manager. The winner of the Senior event was Sam Foote (Year 11), playing The Viscount of Dundee.

Highland Piping Society of Canterbury – Silver Chanter

Twenty-eight St Andrew’s College Pipe Band students competed in the Highland Piping Society of Canterbury Labour Weekend Silver Chanter Solo Piping Competition, a major event in the solo piping calendar. Those to achieve a top three placing were:

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 10): first U21 2/4 March (New Zealand Championship), third B Grade 2/4 March;

• Lucas Paterson (Year 13): third B Grade Piobaireachd, third U21 Piobaireachd;

• Sam Foote (Year 11): second U21 2/4 March;

• Anthony Song (Year 9): first C Grade 2/4 March, third Strathspey/Reel;

• Cameron Sharpe (Year 10): second C Grade Piobaireachd;

• Alice Glover (Year 8): third C Grade Piobaireachd;

• Charlie Gregg (Year 9): second C Grade 2/4 March, second Hornpipe/Jig, first 6/8 March;

• Emily Brook (Year 11): third C Grade Hornpipe/Jig;

• Finlay Trewinnard (Year 9): third C Grade 6/8 March, first D Grade Piobaireachd, 2/4 March, Strathspey/Reel, and 6/8 March;

• Isaac Seatter (Year 10): second D Grade 2/4 March;

• George Nicholls (Year 6): third D Grade 2/4 March;

• Ryley Medland (Year 11): second D Grade Strathspey/Reel;

• William Nicholls (Year 9): third D Grade Strathspey/Reel;

• Charlotte Donovan (Year 8): first Novice March;

• Benjamin Carline (Year 6): third Novice March.

South Canterbury Solo Piping Championships

Students to achieve a first placing at the South Canterbury Solo Piping Championships were:

• Sam Foote (Year 11): first B Grade Hornpipe/Jig;

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 10): first B Grade 6/8 March;

• Hamish Bilton (Year 9): first C Grade 2/4 March, Strathspey/Reel and Hornpipe/Jig;

• Lachlan Sneddon (Year 9): first C Grade 6/8 March;

• Finlay Trewinnard (Year 9): first D Grade Strathspey/Reel and Slow Air;

• Nathaniel Jones (Year 7): first Novice.

Hororata Highland Games

Pipe Sergeant Iona Lawson (Year 13) led the massed bands at the official opening ceremony of the Hororata Highland Games with Amazing Grace. Many students competed in the solo piping and drumming competitions in the morning, prior to the pipe band events where the A Band won Grade 2 and Juvenile, the

B Band won Grade 4, and the newly formed C Band was seventh out of 11 teams in Grade 4 (an adult grade). Top three placegetters in the solo events were:

Solo Piping

• Sam Foote (Year 11): third A Grade and B Grade March, Strathspey and Reel;

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 10): first B Grade March, Strathspey and Reel;

• Finlay Trewinnard (Year 9): first C Grade and second D Grade 2/4 March;

• Lachlan Sneddon (Year 9): third C Grade 2/4 March;

• William Nicholls (Year 9): first D Grade 2/4 March;

• Luke Russell (Year 6): first Novice;

• Jack Blyde (Year 6): third Novice.

Snare Drumming

• Daniel Liu (Year 11): third C Grade 2/4 March;

• D Grade: Theodore Lagias (Year 12) first, Benjamin Edward (Year 8) second, Oliver Gilbert (Year 9) third.

Tenor Drumming

• Harrison Justice (Year 13): third Open March, Strathspey and Reel;

• Samantha Bilton (Year 10): first Intermediate March;

• Annie Young (Year 11): second Intermediate March;

• Rannoch Forsyth (Year 8): third Novice March.

Bass Drumming

• Austin Paterson (Year 10): first Novice.

Waipu Highland Games and Evening Ceilidh/Hogmanay

St Andrew’s students performed well at this major solo piping competition, which is part of a traditional Highland Gathering with various events. Placegetters were:

• Sam Foote (Year 11): B Grade and U21 – Most Points B Grade, first March, Strathspey and Reel, Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jig, second 2/4 March, third Piobaireachd;

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 10): B Grade and U21 – first Piobaireachd, second March Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jig;

• Finlay Trewinnard (Year 9): first C Grade 2/4 March, Most Points D Grade, first 2/4 March, Piobaireachd, and third Strathspey and Reel;

• William Nicholls (Year 9): third C Grade 2/4 March, third D Grade Piobaireachd;

• Ryley Medland (Year 11): first C Grade and D Grade Strathspey and Reel.

2025

Dance

Tavé Stuart (Year 13) went to the Australian National Showcase Dance Competition on the Gold Coast in January. In addition to her dance troupe winning Overall Supreme National Champion for Australia, as an individual, Tavé achieved Top 15 National Dancer of the Year; sixth highest scoring in the Senior Elite category; and was first in Classical, second Lyrical and Musical, and won High Gold for Jazz.

Archer Wyeth (Year 4) attended the New Zealand Boys’ Dance Convention, taking workshops in Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip-hop, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Arco, and Tap. He performed in six items in the convention’s showcase concert, representing his dance school.

Highland Dance

Eleanor Nortje (Year 5) and Agnes Buist (Year 6) received the Examination Scholarship for their respective grades (Initial and Grade 2) at the Summer Fling Highland Dance four-day event. Only one scholarship is awarded per grade from close to 40 pupils per grade.

Georgia Gregg (Year 8) won the South Canterbury Championship U12 Irish Jig, and, with partner Violet Winterbourn (Year 5) won the Double Sword U14. At the Rangiora Highland Dancing Competition, Georgia Gregg won Most Points U12, Iaera Abrahamson (Year 5) won Most Points U10 and Most Points of the Day, Nayana Abrahamson (Year 3) won Most Points U8, Most Points 6 and Under, and Most Outstanding Dancer of the Day, and Watson Winterbourn

(Year 2) won Most Points Male (All Ages), Runner-Up Most Points (U8) and the Restricted Jig (U14).

Irish Dance

Billy Forsyth (Year 11) competed at the World Irish Dance Championships in Ireland in April, in the team’s section as well as performing solo. Billy qualified for the Worlds after competing in his first national competition in October 2024, placing fourth in the Solo section for Boys’ 13–15 years and first in the Mixed team section.

Orchestra

Seven students were selected to participate in the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra (NZSSSO) course, in April. They are Ethan Waines (Year 9), Xinyi (Alicia) Chen, Ary Son, Yuxin (Alice) Chen, Cheryl Teng (all Year 11), Jasmine Hooker and Miu Kim (both Year 13).

Pipe Band

Turakina Highland Games

Placegetters at this event held over the summer holidays were:

• Sam Foote (Year 12): Overall U21 Champion, first 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel; first B Grade Piobaireachd, second 2/4 March and Hornpipe and Jig;

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 11): Overall Most Points B Grade including Most Promising Female Piper, first 2/4 March, Hornpipe and Jig, second Strathspey and Reel, second U21 2/4 March and Strathspey and Reel;

• William Nicholls (Year 10): third C Grade 2/4 March, Hornpipe and Jig.

Cameron Sharpe (Year 11) won second place in the Bagpipe Tune Composition Contest at the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association Summer School in Wellington and received a wonderful McCallum Bagpipe practice chanter as his prize.

The Pipe Band A, B and C Bands competed at the Canterbury Provincial Championships in the grounds of Riccarton Bush, with some fantastic results.

Canterbury Provincial Championships

• A Band – Grade 2 winner Overall and winners of the Provincial and the South Island Championship. Juvenile first place and winners of the Provincial and the South Island Championship;

• B Band – Grade 4 runners-up and Juvenile (combined with C Band) runners-up to A Band;

• C Band – Grade 4 seventh place.

Canterbury Centre Contest

• A Band – Grade 2 runners-up Provincial and the South Island Championship. Juvenile first place;

• B Band – Grade 4 runners-up and Juvenile (with development and C Band) runners-up to A Band;

• C Band – Grade 4 seventh place.

Victorian Piper’s Association Online Solo Piping Competition

Sam Foote (Year 12) and Maggie McConnochie (Year 11) competed in the Victorian Piper’s Association Online Solo Piping Competition, with Sam finishing second overall in B Grade, and Maggie third overall in B Grade.

Theatre

Wilde Brabazon-Fleming (Year 10) played the role of Lysander in his Shakespearean debut with the Canterbury Youth Theatre. Wilde has been performing in theatre productions since the age of four with Newtown Arts Company in the US and has been training with The Court Theatre since the age of six.