Musicians from Westlake Girls and Westlake Boys filled two packed evenings with exceptional choral and instrumental performances during Gala Week – gaining valuable experience under concert conditions before taking their music to major competitions around the country.
The annual Gala Concerts began with the Choral Gala, featuring choirs from both schools. Westlake’s premier choirs, Cantare and Choralation, led the programme alongside Nota Bella and Cigno Voce, with Westlake Boys’ Voicemale and Momentum completing an evening that showcased the strength and variety of choral music across the two schools.
Later in the week, the Instrumental Gala brought together the combined premier ensembles: Westlake Big Band, Westlake Symphony Orchestra, Westlake Concert Band and Westlake Chamber Orchestra. They were joined by Westlake Girls’ development ensembles, Westlake Girls Jazz Band, Westlake Girls Symphonic Band and Taharoto Orchestra, whose performances demonstrated how far their young musicians have progressed this year.
The concerts provided an important final opportunity to perform before live audiences ahead of the season’s major competitions. Our instrumental ensembles went on to perform for adjudicators at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral during the KBB Music Festival, while our choirs prepared for the next stage of The Big Sing. Cantare and Choralation travelled to Christchurch for the national Finale, and Nota Bella headed to Rotorua for Cadenza.
Across two memorable evenings, Gala Week celebrated the depth of musical talent at Westlake and gave every ensemble valuable experience before stepping onto the competition stage.
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