Cultural catch up – May 2026

Ballet Production – The Sleeping Beauty

The St Andrew’s College Ballet Academy proudly presented the classic fairytale, The Sleeping Beauty as its production for 2025. On Saturday 29 November, audiences were enchanted by the show’s two beautiful performances, magical storytelling, and unforgettable music. The timeless ballet has a cast of fairy tale characters in which fairies weave spells, a kingdom slumbers under a wicked curse, and true love awakens with a single kiss. Set to Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking score, The Sleeping Beauty blends grace, grandeur, and a touch of magic. Under the guidance of Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns, the talent of dancers from all year levels shone through as they brought this timeless classic to life with precision and grace. It was a wonderful treat for the Christmas season.

Late 2025*

* Please note the use of 2025 year groups.

Ballet

Cynthia Zhang (Year 4) performed as a child at a party in The Nutcracker at the Isaac Theatre Royal alongside Joshua Guillemot-Rodgerson (OC 2013), Principal Dancer with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, who starred as the Prince.

Ballroom Dance

Holly Hembry (Year 10) competed in the 79th Australian Open Dancesport Championships in Melbourne in December. As the New Zealand representative in the Junior Pro-Am Ballroom and Latin events, she achieved a second placing, a third placing, and two fourth placings. Holly also competed individually in several Solo Junior events, making the top 24 in multiple categories.

Dance

Tavé Stuart (Year 13) advanced to the semi-final of the New Zealand Young Performer Awards, one of only 24 out of 125 of the country’s best modern dancers to progress.

Highland Dance

On Saturday 6 December, a group of 35 Year 2–12 students were part of the Julie Hawke School of Dance cast of Second Star to the Right for two very successful shows held in the Gough Family Theatre. It was truly a wonderful Highland dancing showcase, delighting the audiences with the young Pixie Dust and Lost Boys, right through to the energetic pirates and fearsome Captain Hook, with Peter Pan and Tinkerbelle weaving their magic through each scene.

Highland Dancer of the Year Competitions

Highland dancers achieved excellent results at this national competition:

• Sarah McCarthy (Year 10): Highland Dancer of the Year Champion U16, winner of Championships for Highland Fling, Double Time Irish Jig, and Sailors Hornpipe;

• Samantha Bilton (Year 11): runner-up Highland Dancer of the Year U18;

• Georgia Gregg (Year 8): fourth ranked Highland Dancer of the Year age 12;

• Iaera Abrahamson (Year 5): runner-up Champion Dancer of the Year age 9, winner of Championships for Sword Dance and Highland Fling age 9;

• Nayana Abrahamson (Year 3): runner-up Champion Dancer of the Year age 7, winner of Championships for Highland Fling, Sword Dance and Sailors Hornpipe age 7.

Canterbury West Coast Centre Championships

• Evelyn Lowe (Year 9): third South Island Championship Double Time Jig U16;

• Sofia Sneddon (Year 8): winner Most points U14, winner of Championship Highland Reel U13;

• Samantha Bilton (Year 11): winner South Island Sword Dance U18; winner of Championship Reel O Tulloch Open.

Jazz

The Senior Big Band and the Jazz Orchestra performed over Labour Weekend as part of the Christchurch Big Band Festival in front of large, appreciative audiences at an outdoor gig at Riverside Market, and in The Church on Manchester Street.

Music

The following nine students were accepted into the 2026 New Zealand Secondary Schools' Symphony Orchestra (NZSSSO):

• Violin: Selena Zhang (Year 12), Cheryl Teng (Year 11), Baizhen (Tony) Chen (Year 9);

• Viola: Xinyi (Alicia) Chen, Ary Son (both Year 11);

• Trumpet: Yuxin (Alice) Chen (Year 11);

• Trombone: Yutian (Tianna) Chen (Year 10);

• Horn: Ethan Waines (Year 9);

• Flute: Hao Bo (Terence) Yang (Year 10).

Isabella Cutforth (Year 11) achieved a Distinction in her Grade 8 oboe examination.

Pipe Band

Sam Foote, Ryley Medland (both Year 12) and Charlie Gregg (Year 10) joined Pipe Band Manager, Graeme Bryce, for an unforgettable performance at the Wolfbrook Arena as part of the Full Metal Orchestra event. Sharing the stage with rock legends such as Phil Rudd, Jon Toogood, EJ Barnes, Jennie Skulander, alongside the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Full Metal Band, was an incredible experience for our young musicians.

In December, RNZPBA Youth Band members Sam Foote, Annie Young, Daniel Liu (all Year 12) and Anthony Song (Year 10) took part in the band’s first-ever recording session in Palmerston North.

On New Year’s Eve, Pipe Band members, Sam Foote (Year 12), Finlay Trewinnard (Year 10), Alice Glover (Year 9), Thomas Bottomley (Year 8), Patrick Glover

(Year 7), competed at the Waipu Highland Games, a key solo piping event featuring New Zealand Championship titles. They were accompanied by Pipe Band Tutor, Piers Dover, who won Most Points Open and two North Island Championships. Results were:

• Sam Foote (Year 12): U21 runner-up New Zealand Champion, first U21 Hornpipe and Job, second 2/4 March; Most Points B Grade, first in B Grade March Strathspey and Reel, Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jog, second Piobaireachd, 2/4 March;

• Finlay Trewinnard (Year 11): second B Grade Hornpipe and Jig, third Strathspey and Reel; Most Points C Grade, first C Grade Piobaireachd, Hornpipe and Jig, third Strathspey and Reel;

• Thomas Bottomley (Year 9): second C Grade Piobaireachd, 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel;

• Alice Glover (Year 10): second C Grade Hornpipe and Jig;

• Patrick Glover (Year 8): first D Grade Piobaireachd, Novice Piobaireachd.

Silver Chanter Labour Weekend Solo Piping Championships 2025

The Highland Piping Society of Canterbury’s Silver Chanter Labour Weekend Solo Piping Championships 2025 is the premier solo piping competition in New Zealand. A number of St Andrew’s College Pipe Band pipers took part, performing at the highest level throughout the weekend. Individual placegetters were:

• Sam Foote (Year 12): third A Grade March, Strathspey and Reel, first B Grade Strathspey and Reel, first B Grade Hornpipe and Jig, third U21 New Zealand Championship 2/4 March;

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 11): fourth A Grade Piobaireachd, overall B Grade winner, first B Grade Piobaireachd, 2/4 March, second Strathspey and Reel, third Hornpipe and Jig, first U21 Piobaireachd, second 2/4 March New Zealand Championship;

• Finlay Trewinnard (Year 10): third B Grade Piobaireachd, second U21 Piobaireachd, overall C Grade winner, first C Grade Piobaireachd, second Strathspey and Reel, third 2/4 March;

• Emily Brook (Year 12): third U21 Piobaireachd, first C Grade 2/4 March, third Piobaireachd;

• Charlie Gregg (Year 10): first C Grade Strathspey and Reel, second 2/4 March;

• Hamish Bilton (Year 10): third C Grade Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jig;

• Charlotte Donovan (Year 9): first D Grade Piobaireachd, third 2/4 March;

• Nathanial Jones (Year 8): second D Grade 2/4 March;

• William Kerr (Year 7): third Novice.

Speech and Drama

Outstanding examination results in 2025 led to several students being nominated for prestigious Speech New Zealand scholarships:

• Grade 8: Sylvia James, Teresa Steiner (both Year 12) – nominated for Grade 6–8 Scholarship (awarded to candidates with the highest marks across three modules) and Ciara O’Donnell Award (recognising excellence at Grade 8);

• Grade 7: Logan Scott (Year 11) – nominated for the Grade 6–8 Scholarship;

• Grade 6: Amanda Watkins, Georgia Ellwood (both Year 10) – nominated for the Grade 6–8 Scholarship.

2026

Highland Dance

At the Rangiora Highland Dance Competition, Georgia Gregg (Year 9) won Most Points U14, the Highland Reel Merit Award, and the Most Outstanding Dancer U14 trophy. Eleanor Nortje (Year 4) placed runner‑up for Most Points U10. Nayana Abrahamson (Year 4) achieved Most Points U8 and was also awarded Most Points of the Day. Iaera Abrahamson (Year 6) was runner‑up for Most Points U12.

At the Timaru Highland Dance Competition, Adelyn Abrahamson (Year 8) won Most Points U12, Most Points 14, and the South Canterbury Championship Irish Jig (U12).

Music

Hao Bo (Terence) Yang (Year 11) was selected for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s Irelands Interns programme. The programme supports young musicians in Waitaha Canterbury who are considering professional music pathways. As part of the programme, Terence will perform with the CSO in concerts in August and November.

Orchestra

The following students were selected to participate in the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra (NZSSSO) course, to be held in Christchurch this April:

• Mila Yin, Alexander Dy (both Year 9);

• Ethan Waines, Baizhen (Tony) Chen (both Year 10);

• Hao Bo (Terence) Yang, Yutian (Tianna) Chen (both Year 11);

• Ary Son, Xinyi (Alicia) Chen, Cheryl Teng, Yuxin (Alice) Chen (all Year 12);

• Selena Zhang (Year 13).

Pipe Band

In early January, St Andrew’s College hosted more than 200 students from across Australasia, including members of our own Pipe Band, at the RNZPBA Summer School. Pipe Major, Stuart Liddell MBE, and Drum Sergeant, Steven McWhirter, from the World Champion Inveraray and District Pipe Band (Scotland) were supported by tutors from around New Zealand, including Pipe Band Drum Tutor, Jamie McEwan; Bagpipe Tutor, Piers Dover and Pipe Band Manager, Graeme Bryce.

Maggie McConnochie (Year 12) was one of two New Zealand pipers invited to compete at the second Annual Pipe Majors McNeill Solo Invitational Competition in Brisbane. She also competed at the Queensland Highland Pipers Society Solo Competition, winning the U18 Piobaireachd and the Open March, Strathspey and Reel, and placing third in the Open Hornpipe and Jig.

Charlotte Donovan (Year 10) competed in the Victorian Pipers Association 2026 Online Competition, finishing first overall in the D Grade events.

Turakina Highland Games

On Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February, pipers Sam Foote (Year 13), Maggie McConnochie (Year 12), Finlay Trewinnard (Year 11) and Charlotte Donovan (Year 10) competed at the 161st Turakina Highland Games.

The event attracted strong fields of high-calibre competitors from across the North Island and featuring several championship‑level events within the grades. Results:

• Sam Foote (Year 13): first U21 Strathspey and Reel, second 2/4 March; first B Grade Strathspey and Reel, 2/4 March, fourth Piobaireachd;

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 12): first U21 2/4 March, third Strathspey and Reel; second B Grade Piobaireachd, Strathspey and Reel, and 2/4 March, third B Grade Hornpipe and Jig;

• Finlay Trewinnard (Year 11): second U21 Strathspey and Reel; first C Grade Piobaireachd, 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jig, second Slow Air;

• Charlotte Donovan (Year 10): third C Grade Strathspey and Reel; second D Grade 2/4 March, third Piobaireachd.

St Andrew’s Pipe Bands performed strongly at the Canterbury Provincial Championships and Ensemble Day Contest held at Riccarton Bush in March. The A Band was overall winner across both Grade 2 competitions and placed first in the Juvenile Grade, winning all events including drumming. The B Band was overall winner of

Grade 4A, runner-up in the Ensemble, and second in the Juvenile Grade. At the Canterbury Centre Contest the following day, the A Band won both Grade 2 and the Juvenile Grade.

Speech and Drama

Sylvia James (Year 13) was awarded a Speech New Zealand Scholarship for Grade 8 (Speech and Drama). Scholarships are offered nationally through a competitive selection process, to students who achieve Honours or Honours Plus across Grades 6, 7, and 8.