- By Carlos Norton, AUT journalism student
Pakuranga College students showcased their musical talent to the local Howick community at the Uxbridge Theatre last Friday in preparation for their end-of-year performances.
The Fridays@12 showcase, hosted by Uxbridge Arts and Culture, provides local colleges a platform to share students’ musical performances with the community, helping them prepare for various high-profile performances later in the year.
Featuring performances from chamber music groups, a selection of bands and three vocalists, the showcase was enjoyed by both the performers and the audience.
Playing to a sold-out audience, the talented students showcased classical, jazz and even some New Zealand music, with the audience applauding after each of the 18 pieces.
The head of the music department at Pakuranga College, Richard Breed, enjoys seeing the young performers in their element on stage.
“The Uxbridge performance is one of our favourite outings for the year … it’s really uplifting for students,” he says.
Breed says the showcase “[is] building a community through music” whilst also helping students improve their confidence, with his motto for it being “feel the fear and do it anyway”.
The recently-closed Pakuranga College production For Today – a jukebox of NZ hits – also had its moment in the spotlight at the showcase, with warm and lively performances of Maybe Tomorrow by Goldenhorse and Bursting Through by Bic Runga, guided by the talented vocals of year 13 pupil Ingrid Ioka and Honiana Moli, who’s in year 10.
Itinerant music teacher Hamish Arthur, who conducted the production band, has attended the event multiple times for different schools but still enjoys the performances.
He says: “All of [the shows] pretty much sell out. It’s a really good goal for groups, especially the chamber music groups because they can perform in a great venue with great sound and lighting.
“There’s no judges, you’re purely going there to entertain, and so that’s lovely to not have the pressure on, but still want to do a great performance.”
Year 13 guitarist Advait Kuwalekar, who played in the Production Orchestra and the year 13 Band, is using this performance as a stepping stone for the KBB Music Festival in August, where he’ll perform in the Jazz Band.
He says, “[KBB is] always a big deal because we get to see other schools’ jazz bands perform and get a bit of friendly competition going”.
He’s pushing for his own goals, but also helping uplift his fellow players, saying “it’s a group effort, there’s only so much of a difference that any one individual can do in a band”.
Whilst the college’s bands have been aiming for the sky, the local showcase at Uxbridge Arts and Culture was still a highlight for musicians and audiences alike.
