At St Paul’s Collegiate School we nurture the creative talents of our students through a well-structured music programme that includes academic participation and an itinerant music scheme.

Music is an important part of arts and cultural life at St Paul’s.

Students are encouraged to develop performance skills, creativity, confidence, and musicianship through classroom learning, itinerant lessons, ensembles, and performance opportunities.

Many St Paul’s students perform at regional and national level, including selection for groups such as the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir and the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra.

Music is available as a subject from Years 9–13.

Students in Years 10–13 may choose Music as an elective subject, exploring:

  • performance
  • composition
  • music technology
  • musicianship
  • music history and analysis

Itinerant Programme

Students can access weekly one-on-one instrumental and vocal lessons through the itinerant music programme.

Lessons take place in the Mary Hornsby Music Centre and are available across a wide range of instruments, including:

  • piano
  • singing
  • strings
  • brass
  • woodwind
  • guitar
  • drums

Year 9 students participate in the itinerant programme as part of the curriculum, with many continuing lessons throughout their senior years. To read about our passionate music teachers, click here.

Music groups

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

  • Choirs (St Paul’s Choir, no audition and The Chamber Choir, audition)
  • Big Band (students interested in jazz, grade three or above. Instruments include trumpet, trombone, clarinet, alto and baritone saxophone, piano, guitar and bass. The Big Band regularly performs at the Tauranga Jazz Festival, Hawke’s Bay Festival, ITM Music Festival and the annual St Paul’s Good Vibrations concert.
  • Concert Band. Open to all brass, woodwind and percussion students.
  • Student-led rock bands
  • String ensemble
  • Chamber ensembles