MHS Music brochure 2025​​​​​​​

Music in 2025

Options for Year 9 students are:

Music – Give it a Go
Either learn an instrument, develop your singing voice, learn to compose music or songs, play in
a band, begin sound engineering or music production, build or play taonga puoro, learn how to read music to play, compose using online
programmes, research a style of music. Work on your own/in a group to develop skills. Whether
a beginner or experienced, work at your own level.

Music Maestro
For students who have learnt an instrument, who sing or who want to learn an instrument using the Itinerant Music Scheme. Includes score reading, composition, research, music technology, learning about instru-ments including taonga puoro. Work on a Music project eg playing in a band, developing skills as a soloist, composing using software, song writing, sound engineering etc.

There are also many opportunities to participate in Music events:

• Lunchtime concerts in the Quad
• NCEA Solo Performance concert end of Term 1
• Primary schools Music Tour
• Hookline and Singalong Composition competition
• NZMC Music Mentor
• May Music Month - lunchtime concerts in the Motueka library
• The Big Sing in Blenheim
• Chamber Music Competition
• Rockquest and Tangata Beats
• Play it Strange composition competitions
• Talent Quest

Lucy Summerfield wins finalist spot at Tangata Beats with original reo waiata 

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Julia Deans at MHS

The Music Department was lucky to apply for and get a Music Mentor from the NZ Music Commission's Musicians Mentoring Program.

Julia Dean spent two days working with the 10 entries in Rockquest. This was a record number of entries as the most we have had in any other year is three. There are 4 bands and 6 solo/duos with two of those entering Tangata Beats. The vast majority of students are also first time entrants so it was an exciting time for them. The participants must compose their own songs. If they get through to the regional final they submit a video of a second song.

Julia was happy to share her knowledge of music, her process when performing and composing as well as being a professional musician.

Lucy Summerfield performing with Julia Deans ....​​​​​​​https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/seven-sharp/clips/smokefree-rockquest-celebrates-35-years

Primary Schools Tour 2025

The Music department’s big event for the term was the Primary Schools’ Music Tour. The schools we visited were Mapua, Tasman, Mahana and Lower Moutere

Above: Imperfect Circles - Alex Lightfoot, Theo Hansen, Morgan Grove-Roberts, Tobin Van Boekhout-McKenzie

Above: Jazz Combo – Alex Lightfoot, Theo Hansen, Rin Landicho, Revival Iosefa, Ole Sprengel

Above: Morgan Grove-Roberts, Chalome Laitflang

Above: MHS Senior Band

Above: Samoan Dance group

The Big Sing 2025

Suono Bellissimo performed this year at the event in Blenheim.  We congratulate them for winning the Spirit of the Festival award.

The students enjoy the road trip and always perform well. It is also a good chance for students to hear the other secondary school choirs from around the region​​​​​​​

The Big Sing 2024

​​​​​​​Suono Bellissimo won 'Best performance of Choral Art Music' and 'Best performance of a piece in te reo Maori' at The Big Sing 2024.

The Big Sing

The Big Sing, the New Zealand Choral Federation's festival for secondary school choirs, has been held annually for over 30 years. With some 10,000 singers from around 160 schools and 260 choirs entering the regional festivals each year, it is one of New Zealand's largest choral and school events.

The main aims of The Big Sing are to:

• encourage enjoyment in singing and foster excellence in performance
• enable school choirs to participate in and be exposed to high-quality choral music in a supportive and professional setting
• increase understanding and appreciation of Maori vocal music and performance styles
• provide opportunities for students to lead choirs and develop conducting skills
• provide professional development for choir directors via adjudication and feedback, as well as mentoring and networking with other choral leaders
• provide opportunities for New Zealand composers to have their works performed in public to a high standard
• encourage budding composers through the SOUNZ-NZCF competitions.

You can follow The Big Sing on Facebook or on www.nzcf.org.nz