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SHEILA WINN FESTIVAL OF SHAKESPEARE IN SCHOOLS
This year a group of intrepid young thespians performed most creditably at Macleans College in the student – directed excerpt. Julien van Mellaerts and Hugh McCaffery chose to present the ‘Banquet scene’ (Act 111 scene iv) from ‘Macbeth’. Their directional style and interpretation were described by the judges as bold and imaginative for indeed they set the action within the context of ‘Clockwork Orange’ as background. Costume, setting and props were thus strong and striking in concept.
James Kuegler was seen as totally committed to his role as Macbeth and Charlotte Horton was a sympathetic, yet devious Lady Macbeth. The lead characters were most ably supported by attendants Dane Hart and Jeremy Caughey and fellow witches Edward Swift, Hayden Whitecliffe and Toby King.
Riccardo Massari
Teacher in Charge
KING’S STUDENTS REPRESENT IRAQ AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AT MUNA
The United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand runs the MUNA Model United Nations Assembly annually. Mike Picot represented Iraq and Edward Swift, the Central African Republic. Students were told of the resolutions for discussion and then they researched the economic, social and political position of their country.
Edward said that, “The MUNA gave us a great understanding of what issues the UN tries to deal with and the method by which it does this We were challenged to throw away our own personal beliefs and to lobby for what the government of our country would want. However, we also had much fun, as we socialised with other Auckland secondary school students and had the occasional funny note passed through the conference assistants.”
TEAMS IN THE REGIONAL DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
King's fielded a representative debating team of: Patrick Senior, Jack Oliver-Hood and Hugh McCaffrey, and two reserve speakers: Ben Smith and Rupert Abraham who formed a reserve team with a speaker from Mount Albert Grammar School.
Both teams did extremely well. The reserve team - who were ineligible to advance to the knock-out rounds - won two of their three debates - the first of which was against their own King's team! Despite this 'own goal' the King's team advanced to the quarter-final break ranked at the bottom of the table. King's faced and beat top seed Kristin College and then went on to beat their semi-finalist opponents Auckland Girls' Grammar. After an exciting weekend of debating King's College won the tournament, beating Long Bay College and reclaiming their title as regional champions.
Twenty top debating schools participated in the tournament and the standard was very high. Rupert Abraham and Jack Oliver-Hood were awarded the additional honour of being named highly commended speakers.
GREAT SUCCESS FOR COLLEGE MUSICIANS IN TERM 2.
KING’S TRIO WINS AUCKLAND CHAMBER MUSIC ROUND
On Sunday June 12th, the King’s Chamber Music Trio won First Place in the Auckland District Round of the De Croy National Chamber Music Competition. The Arno Trio comprises Shyam Sankaran (violin) and Leo Shin (cello) along with Tian Tian Xu (piano) from Northcote College and they performed the very demanding ‘Piano Trio in F # Minor’ by A Babadjanian, an Armenian Composer.
Their coach, Violinist Mr Boris Kipnis, who teaches at the College, was delighted with their progress through the competition. Two other music scholars at King’s, Edward King (Cello) and Finn Schofield (Clarinet) gained the adjudicator’s award and a highly commended prize. Stuart Sherwood, Director of Music said “They are some of the most sensitive musicians I have come across and it is wonderful to see their hard work pay off”.
ALICE ARMITT IS AN ACCLAIMED SINGER
Congratulations to Alice Armitt in her recent entry to the West Auckland Performing Arts Competition. Alice took first prize in the Musical Comedy section, second prize in the Classical Aria, third prize in the Sacred Solo and Very Highly Commended in the Vocal Solo section. The awards are even more remarkable since the categories are aged 17 – 21.
Alice is the recipient of the KCOCA Chapel Music Bursary for 2005.
MAJOR’S SUCCESS IN HOUSE MUSIC
Each House had been practicing for weeks to ensure a good result. Those who followed the rules were not disappointed. We were treated to some very competitive and well conducted performances. The music range stretched from the‘X -Team Sports Medley’ sung by Averill House through to ‘The Longest Time’ sung by St John’s House in the Small House item. Big House and the overall trophy was won by Major House under the baton of Charles Baker singing ‘Stand By Me’. Once again this popular event showcased some very fine talent which exists in all the Houses and it has the advantage in that it is the one cultural event that involves all our students. Many thanks must go to the compare Rev Murray Bean who stepped in at the eleventh hour to take us through the night and Mr Robert Alderton who acted as the adjudicator.
Riccardo Massari
Cultural Co-ordinator
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