The Westlake Boys High School auditorium was filled with exceptional music and immense community spirit on Thursday 5 March, as we hosted the Instrumental Music China Tour Benefit Concert. This milestone event served as the final fundraising push for the 84 music students as they prepare to embark on a prestigious two-week cultural and performance tour across Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.
As our most ambitious instrumental project in over a decade, the tour represents a significant investment in the musical and cultural education of our premier ensembles. The evening was a significant financial success, with all proceeds from ticket sales and auction bids going directly toward the tour costs for our students.
The evening featured performances from our 4 Premiere Ensembles: Westlake Symphony Orchestra (directed by David Squire), Westlake Concert Band (directed by Warwick Robinson), Westlake Big Band (directed by Eddie Hare), and Westlake Chamber Orchestra (directed by Joo Yeon Lee), offering the audience a preview of the repertoire that will soon be showcased on the international stage.
Beyond the stage, the Silent Auction, Raffles and food sales were a huge highlight of the night, characterised by high engagement and enthusiastic bidding. The night’s success was made possible through the extraordinary support of our local business communities.
We would like to extend our formal thanks to the following businesses, who contributed items and donations.
Takapuna Beachside Cinemas, Iyengar Yoga, Snowplanet, TokTok, Takapuna Beach Cafe, BP Northcote, Huami SkyCity, Scrunchy Millers, Goodness Gracious, Pupuke Golf Club, MOTAT, Game Over Auckland, HP, Synthony Festival, Harvey Norman Wairau, Hallertau Breweries, Bunnings Glenfield, Frank Green, KBB Music, Healing Hands Massage, and Toasted.
As our 84 musicians polish their repertoire in their final rehearsals, we look forward to sharing the stories and successes of their journey through China this April. Big things continue to happen in Westlake Music, and we are grateful to have such a supportive community behind us!