MHS Music brochure 2026​​​​​​​

Music in 2026

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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NZ Music Commission Mentor – Joel Shadbolt

Above: "Not Just Yet" with Joel Shadbolt

Primary Schools Tour 2026

The Music department’s big event for the term was the Primary Schools’ Music Tour. 

Above: Pink Wafers

Above: Leafy Greens

The Big Sing 2026

Suono Bellissimo performed this year at the event in Nelson.

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

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