Music

Music plays an important and large part of the Arts and Culture programme at St Paul’s Collegiate School. Many of our students represent New Zealand in groups such as the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir and New Zealand Secondary Schools' Symphony Orchestra. Our own St Paul’s ensembles are successful in regional festivals. All Year 9 students learn a musical instrument making the junior music programme unique to St Paul’s.

Music is a subject available to all students from Years 9-13. Students in Years 10-13 are given the option to choose music as an elective. Through St Paul’s itinerant music scheme, students can choose to learn one of the following musical instruments (in addition to the academic curriculum): piano, organ, singing, violin, cello, drums, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, flute, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, tuba, horn, ukulele, euphonium and banjo.

Instrument lessons take place for half an hour during class or lunchtime. All music lessons and teachings are held in the purpose-built Mary Hornsby Music Centre, opposite the Chapel.

Itinerant Programme

In Year 9, music is a compulsory subject and take part in the itinerant programme, pushing them to try new experiences and introducing them to instruments they would never have tried before. Students can choose from many different instruments, with one of the 21 itinerant music teachers who provide lessons through the school. Each student receives a 30-minute lesson once a week. Many students choose to continue on with their instrument, either by playing or singing in one of our large ensembles, participating in one of our chamber groups, or playing in a rock band.

Music groups

St Paul’s Collegiate School has a number of music groups that cater for a range of musical abilities and interests. These groups include:

• Choir
• Big Band
• Concert Band
• Student-led rock bands
• String ensemble
• Chamber ensembles

Choirs

The St Paul’s Choir consists of members from Years 9 – 13; it is for any St Paul’s student to join and there is no audition required. The auditioned group, the Chamber Choir, has a long-standing reputation for quality performance and presentation. Auditions are held at the beginning of each school year. Students who are selected for the Chamber Choir must also sing in the St Paul’s Choir.

Both choirs lead music during the week and at Sunday evening services in the School’s Chapel. Students also regularly compete in the New Zealand Federation Big Sing competition.

Big Band

Students who are interested in jazz, and who are grade three standard or more in their chosen instrument, are encouraged to join St Paul’s Big Band. Instruments include trumpet, trombone, clarinet, alto and baritone saxophone, piano, guitar and bass. There are opportunities for less experienced students to work towards performing in a beginner jazz band. The Big Band regulary perfoms at the Tauranga Jazz Festival, Hawke’s Bay Festival, ITM Music Festival and the annual St Paul’s Good Vibrations concert.

Concert Band

St Paul’s Concert Band is open to all brass, woodwind and percussion students. The Concert Band regularly performs at the Hawke’s Bay Festival, ITM Festival and the annual St Paul’s Good Vibrations concert.

Music teachers

To read about our passionate music teachers, click here.

Music, Arts and Cultural Contacts

Director of Music, Director of Choirs and Musical Director of Production
Delwyn Stanbridge-Allen Email Delwyn or +64 7 957 8876

Head of Drama and Director of Production
Bruce Rawson
Email Bruce or +64 22 658 1169

General Enquiries/Questions, Photography Team, Set Design (Productions)
Jonathan Cameron
Email Jonathan or +64 7 957 8899

Music Rehearsals