Cultural catch up – November 2025

Aurora Festival

The Chamber Orchestra and Concert Orchestra, conducted by Mark Hodgkinson, both won silver awards at the Aurora Festival – a celebration of school and community orchestral music held at The Aurora Centre.

Ballet

Tavé Stuart (Year 13) made it to the final of the South Island Ballet Award (SIBA), out of 48 senior dancers. As a finalist, Tavé has been invited to attend the Annette Roselli Dance Academy in Australia for a one-week international summer seminar.

Yinan (Vivian) Lu, Matilda MacMillan and Tavé Stuart (all Year 13), undertook the New Zealand Association of Modern Dance (NZAMD) examinations for their Solo Performance Ballet Diploma, with all three successfully gaining the award.

Cynthia Zhang (Year 4) successfully auditioned to perform in the Christchurch season of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

A record number of students received the top grade of Distinction and gained a Scholarship Nomination in the NZAMD Ballet examinations, which gives them the opportunity to compete at the National Scholarship Awards event. Scholarship nominations were awarded to:

• Sophie Orman (Year 9);

• Alyssa Blackman, Cameron Lyons, Katherine Morris, Frederick Paterson, Holly Thirkell, Siara van Nobelen, Kalisa Zhang (all Year 10);

• Samantha Bilton, Clara-Jane Long, Femke McLean (all Year 11);

• Neve Aitken (Year 12);

• Tavé Stuart (Year 13).

Charlize Blakely, Yinan (Vivian) Lu, Nadia Marriott, Abby Veitch and Manzhao (Cherry) Xu (all Year 13), were awarded the St Andrew’s College Ballet Graduate Diploma, which concludes the pre-professional examination series.

Cameron Lyons (Year 10) was first and Femke McLean (Year 11) third at the finals of the NZAMD National Ballet Scholarship Awards. This was an outstanding achievement for both dancers and makes it two years in a row a St Andrew’s dancer has won this event.

Concerts and Performance Evenings

Family and friends have enjoyed a variety of concerts and performances from various music groups over the last few months, including a concert from the College’s three jazz bands, the Music Department’s final Music Performance Evening for 2025, and a Vocal Concert, where singers showcased their talents with a variety of performances, ranging from folk and classical songs to contemporary favourites and musical theatre.

Dance

In their first inter-school competition, the St Andrew’s College Dance team won third place in the Senior section at the DanceNZ made Christchurch Regional competition which qualified them to compete at the nationals.

Highland Dancing

A group of students had good success at the New Zealand Highland Dancing Championships, competing against around 240 competitors from throughout the country.

• U18: Charlotte Kyle (Year 12) eighth national ranking, Samantha Bilton (Year 11) ninth national ranking;

• U16: Sarah McCarthy (Year 10) New Zealand National Champion U16, winner of six individual championship titles; Evelyn Lowe (Year 9) third Irish Reel, fifth Irish Jig Double Time Jig, 10th Sailors Hornpipe;

• U14: Sofia Sneddon (Year 8) runner-up National Champion; Georgia Gregg (Year 8) first Sean Triubhas;

• 12 and Under: Georgia Gregg (Year 8) age group winner;

• U10: Iaera Abrahamson (Year 5) runner-up National Champion;

• U8: Nayana Abrahamson (Year 3) third national ranking.

Eleanor Nortje (Year 3) competed in the Balmoral Highland Restricted Day where she won three first places and the Most Points U10 Trophy.

International Languages Week

International Languages Week was celebrated with a range of fun activities, including a lunchtime scavenger hunt, sumo wrestling challenge, international food challenge, a week-long poster competition, and an International Quiz.

Jazz

All of the Secondary School jazz bands performed at the MusicWorks Ensemble Festival Aotearoa (MEFA) in Wellington, where they also attended excellent workshops presented by an Australian guest judge. The bands’ Thursday concert supporting the New Zealand Air Force band was a highlight. Also in Wellington, at the Young Jazz Band-it competition, St Andrew’s College was the only school with two bands among just 10 selected nationwide.

Jazz Club

The annual Jazz Club at Fat Eddies featured the Big Band, Jazz Combo, and Jazz Orchestra, who performed two hours of music for a large and appreciative audience of family and friends.

Kapa Haka

Both the Preparatory School and Secondary School kapa haka took part in the Ōtautahi Tūhono Kapa Haka Festival. The eighty Preparatory School students performed four items in the concert, accompanied by Tutor, Matua Steve Reid. Alexander Petelo (Year 4), Hunter Donnithorne and Austen Fraser (both Year 8) played the opening call on conch shells to begin the performance. This was the first time the Secondary School kapa haka has performed at the Festival. Despite some nerves for their debut, the group showcased te ao Māori with pride and passion.

Music

Ethan Waines (Year 9) passed his Trinity Grade 7 French Horn examination with Distinction and was selected to join the New Zealand Opera and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra playing French Horn in the opera, Monster in the Maze, in September.

Caleb Waines (Year 7) received Distinction for his LTCL Piano Diploma Exam, which is equivalent in standard to the final year recital of an undergraduate degree.

Cheryl Teng (Year 11) won first place at the Hutt Valley Performing Arts Competition in the String 14 Years and Over category.

Orchestra

Baizhen (Tony) Chen (Year 9) performed a solo with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at The Last Night of the Proms.

Pasifika Camp

The inaugural Pasifika Group Camp was held on the final day of Term 3. Members of the Pasifika Group, along with their wider whānau and mentors, attended a two-day, one night ‘camp’ held onsite at the College. The evening began with a sermon from local minister, Nicky Sofai, which was followed by shared kai in the Senior College and students farewelling their whānau before moving into MacGibbon Boarding House for the night. Students then took part in a range of activities and spent time connecting and celebrating the year’s accomplishments as a group. The following morning, the group reflected on the event and the year to date and made acknowledgements to the Senior leaders of the group.

Photography

Samuel Edwards (Year 13) won the British High Commission’s Youth Photography Competition for young people aged 14–24 in the Canterbury region with his photo of a British Jaguar car parked in front of vibrant street art in central Christchurch. Harry Simmons (Year 13) was second.

Pipe Band

Maggie McConnochie (Year 11) and Sam Foote (Year 12) achieved outstanding results in various solo piping competitions in Scotland:

Maggie McConnochie

• overall winner in the U18 Junior Solo Piping at the Northern Meeting in Inverness, one of the world’s most prestigious solo piping events;

• overall winner at the Braemar Gathering Junior Piping (U18) event, attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla;

• second in the MacGregor Memorial (U22) Piobaireachd Solo Piping Competition in Oban, against 30 international players selected for this prestigious event;

• first, two seconds, and a third placing in events at the Lochaber Gathering (Juniors);

• second, third, and fourth placings in events at the Blairgowie Games Junior Piping event.

Sam Foote

• overall winner at the Birnam Games (Juniors);

• second in the U18 Junior MSR and Junior Jig categories at the Crieff Highland Games, an international competition;

• second two events at the Pitlochy Highland Games;

• second, third and two fourths at the Lochaber Gathering (Juniors);

• first and second placings in events at the Glenisla Highland Games, and third, and fourth placings in events at the Lonach Gathering.

Maggie McConnochie was awarded an Inspire Foundation Grant in Specialist Instrument for Solo Piping. The Inspire Foundation supports young New Zealanders to achieve excellence in their chosen field.

Anthony Song (Year 10), Sam Foote, Emily Brook, Daniel Liu and Annie Young (all Year 12) were selected for the 2025 National Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand.

Maggie McConnochie won fourth place overall at the Wellington Pipers’ Club Brown Cup.

Highland Piping Society of Canterbury Sunday Solo Competition

First placegetters in this competition were:

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 11): first B Grade Piobaireachd;

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

• Sam Foote (Year 12): first B Grade Strathspey/Reel;

• Aoife Forsyth (Year 8): first D Grade Novice;

• Emily Syme (Year 5): first D Grade Practice Chanter.

Pipe Band drummers competed in the 2025 Ōtautahi Solo Drumming Championships.

First placegetters are this competition were:

Snare Drumming

• Daniel Liu (Year 1a): first Juvenile 18 and Under; B Grade Hornpipe and Jig;

• Lee Patterson (Year 12): first D Grade March, Strathspey/Reel, Aggregate;

• Samuel Carline (Year 6): first Novice drum.

Tenor Drumming

• Alanna Brook (Year 12): first Intermediate March, Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jig, Aggregate;

• Freya Donaldson (Year 8): first Novice 2/4 March, 4/4 March.

Bass Drumming

• Matthew Bluck (Year 12): first Open March, Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jig, Aggregate;

• Austin Paterson (Year 12): first Novice.

U21 New Zealand Young Piper of the Year

St Andrew’s was well represented at this major solo piping event, with Maggie McConnochie (Year 11) finishing second overall. Those to reach the podium were:

• Maggie McConnochie (Year 11): second overall U21, runner-up in Piobaireachd, March Strathspey and Reel, and U21 Hornpipe and Jig; second overall B Grade, first Strathspey and Reel, Medley, second Piobaireachd, Hornpipe and Jig;

• Sam Foote (Year 12): first U21 March Strathspey and Reel, third B Grade 2/4 March;

• Finlay Trewinnard (Year 10): first overall C Grade, first 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel;

• Emily Brook (Year 12): first C Grade Piobaireachd;

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

• Hamish Bilton (Year 10): first C Grade Hornpipe and Jig, third 2/4 March;

• Nathaniel Jones (Year 8): first D Grade Strathspey and Reel;

• George Nicholls (Year 7) second D Grade 2/4 March;

• Charlotte Donovan (Year 9): third Slow Air and Jig.

Highland Pipe Society of Canterbury Sunday Solo Piping Event

Students to achieve a first place at this event were:

• Sam Foote (Year 12): first B Grade 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel;

• Alice Glover (Year 9): first B Grade Piobaireachd;

• Hamish Bilton (Year 10): first C Grade Piobireachd, Strathspey and Reel;

• Charlie Gregg (Year 10): first C Grade 2/4 March.

Rock Night

Rock School students shared their original material at the annual Rock Night concert, with nine Secondary School bands and two Preparatory School bands, delighting the audience at a packed A Rolling Stone. The bands performed over two hours of fun, high-quality originals and covers, with their original songs also recorded for the 2025 StAC Rock album, which is available on streaming services by searching for StAC Rock 2025.

Speech and Drama

The Rotary Junior Speech Contest for Year 5–8 students held its preliminary rounds and final at Heaton Intermediate, with 75 students from across Christchurch schools taking part. In the Year 5 category, Georgia Blyde won first place, Violet Winterbourn placed third (highly commended), and Jessica Whitehead won the Year 7 category.

A group of students competed with merit in the Christchurch Speech and Drama Competitions in the July school holidays. Trophy/Scholarship winners were:

• 6 years: Watson Winterbourn (Year 2) Highest Points in Classes 1,2,3 Under 8, winner Duologue U16;

• 7 years: Aston Rideout (Year 3) Elizabeth May Trophy for the Most Outstanding Performance;

• 7 years: Myrto Kantzidis (Year 3) Trinity: Speech and Drama Own Selection U8;

• 9 years: Violet Winterbourn (Year 5): Scholarship Most Points 8 and U10, Most Points Poetry, Reading, and winner Duologue U16;

• 11 years: Jessica Whitehead (Year 7) A&G Tucker Challenge Cup highest marks in prepared reading and poetry 10 and U12, Louisa Williams Challenge Cup highest points in own selection, test and light verse poem 10 and U12, Christchurch Competitions Society Scholarship highest marks in test poem, own selection poem, drama and reading at sight 10 and U12;

• 11 years: Alexander Swettenham (Year 6) Trophy for Best Endeavours 10 and U12 and McCarroll Family Trophy for Sportsmanship;

• 12 years: Aaron Yu (Year 8) Stanley Cup for most entertaining performance all ages, Sarah Longbottom Cup for most points impromptu speech all ages;

• 13 years: Ben McKendry (Year 8) Highest points over all categories ages 12–14, Gay Balch Scholarship, Christchurch Competitions Society Trophy;

• 14 years: Amanda Watkins (Year 10) Scholarship;

• 16 years: Sylvia James (Year 12) Christchurch Competitions 16–19 years scholarship, Rea Family Cup, Dianne Jones Trophy with Teresa Steiner.

Theatre

Jessica Whitehead, Sophie Jacobs (both Year 7), Jesse Clifford (Year 9) and Matilda Tombros (Year 10) were involved in a youth production of The Sound of Music.