A month of musical enrichment at Macleans College
Posted on May 28, 2025
The month of May has been a vibrant month of music at Macleans College, with students participating in three unique and inspiring events.
Lower Voices Festival
On Friday 16 May, Macleans College male choir Knights of the Castle took part in the annual Lower Voices Festival at King's College. This festival celebrates tenor and bass voices and featured workshops led by renowned vocal and choral experts Steven Rapana and James Harrison.
Throughout the day, the Knights joined hundreds of students from across Auckland - including Westlake Boys High School, Rosmini College, Rangitoto College, Dilworth School, King’s College and St John’s College in Hamilton - for a day of singing and vocal technique.
In the evening concert, the Knights performed O Quam Gloriosum by Jacob Narverud. Each choir presented one piece, before coming together as a massed choir to perform Matariki by Robert Wiremu.
It was a memorable day of musical growth and collaboration. Macleans College looks forward to returning next year.
Choir exchange with Saint Kentigern College
On Thursday 15 May, Macleans College Chorale hosted Kentoris, the premiere SATB choir from Saint Kentigern College, for their annual choir exchange. This event fosters connection and mutual learning between neighbouring schools.
The choirs were led in warm-ups and exercises by Mrs McNabb and Denzel Panama, director of Kentoris. They then performed for one another, sharing their upcoming competition sets for The Big Sing, taking place in June.
The exchange strengthened bonds within East Auckland’s choral community and provided valuable performance experience for both groups.
On this day, Macleans College students were recognising Pink Shirt Day with a mufti day.
Discovery Concert
On Tuesday 20 May, students from the accelerate class 9BECS attended the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Discovery Concert at Auckland Town Hall. This experience formed part of their music curriculum focused on orchestral performance.
The concert opened with a piece that introduced the audience to each orchestral instrument and its role within the ensemble. Students then heard a variable programme, including Strauss’s oboe concerto, experts from Bizet’s Carmen and a world premiere by composer-in-residence Grace Wellik. The event concluded with an audience-led composition activity, where the audience voted on melody, harmony and rhythm.
For many students, it was their first visit to a professional concert venue - a milestone moment in their musical journey.
