On 7 May, our premier mixed choir Choralation performed at the morning graduation ceremony for the University of Auckland. The event was held at Spark Arena with around 6,000 in attendance. The choir impressed the audience and academic staff with their two piece bracket of Mendelssohn and John Rutter.

Nuestras alumnas de 10º año han vuelto a conectar con los chicos de Westlake Boys a través de nuestro proyecto anual de correspondencia. Tras dos semanas redactando cartas escritas a mano en español, una delegación de 9 estudiantes entregó personalmente el correo en Westlake Boys esta semana. ¡Ahora estamos a la espera de sus respuestas con mucha ilusión! Este proyecto sigue demostrando que el idioma es mucho más que una asignatura: es una herramienta real para crear amistades y tender puentes entre nuestras comunidades.

Our Year 10 Spanish students have once again connected with Westlake Boys through our annual penpal project. After two weeks of crafting handwritten letters in Spanish, a special delegation of 9 students personally delivered the mail to Westlake Boys this week. We are now eagerly looking forward to receiving their replies! This project continues to show that language is more than just a subject, it is a real-world tool for building friendships and bridging our communities.

In a bold return to the international stage, the combined music departments of Westlake Boys and Westlake Girls High Schools embarked on an ambitious 13-day concert tour across Eastern China. Marking the first international venture for the premier instrumental ensembles since 2014, the 2026 tour was a resounding success and a defining moment for our Performing Arts program.

A dedicated contingent of 93—comprising 84 talented student musicians and nine staff members—traversed a high-energy itinerary through Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Our four premier ensembles represented our schools with distinction:

• Westlake Symphony Orchestra (Directed by Mr. David Squire)
• Westlake Chamber Orchestra (Directed by Mrs. Joo Yeon Lee)
• Westlake Big Band (Directed by Mr. Eddie Hare)
• Westlake Concert Band (Directed by Mr. Warwick Robinson)

Serving as cultural ambassadors, the students performed at several prestigious venues, including Dulwich College (Beijing), Shanghai Normal University, and the Hangzhou Youth Orchestra. These exchanges allowed our musicians to connect with international peers through the universal language of music. Between rehearsals, concerts and travel, the group immersed themselves in the rich history and vibrant future of China. Highlights of the journey included:

• Beijing: Conquering the Great Wall and exploring the grandeur of the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and the Forbidden City.
• Xi’an: Standing before the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors and experiencing a traditional Tang Dynasty cultural performance.
• Hangzhou: A scenic boat trip on the famous “West Lake”—a fitting namesake for our schools—followed by the spectacular CBD light show.
• Shanghai: Taking in the iconic Bund skyline, wandering the serene Yuyuan Garden, and enjoying a well-deserved final celebration at Shanghai Disneyland.

This monumental undertaking was the result of seamless collaboration between both schools’ music departments. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Ensemble Directors, the dedicated staff chaperones, and the travel coordinators at Tour Time for their meticulous planning.

We also owe a massive thank you to our Parent Fundraising Committee, whose tireless efforts ensured our students could participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Most importantly, we celebrate our students. Their technical mastery, dedication to their craft, and exemplary conduct throughout the tour brought immense pride to the Westlake community and New Zealand.

Students from Westlake Girls High School and Westlake Boys High School took part in the Takapuna Filipino Festival on Saturday, 2 May 2026, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Waiwharariki Anzac Square in Takapuna.

As part of a student performance competition focused on sharing and learning about Filipino culture, the group performed Tinikling with a creative twist. They included moments where some dancers were blindfolded to highlight trust, timing, and teamwork. Their performance impressed both the audience and the judges, earning them second place overall. The experience was seen as a meaningful way to engage with Filipino cultural traditions through collaboration, respect, and creativity.

 The performers are:

• Lexter Cueva (WBHS)
• Ashley Garingalao (WGHS)
• Iza Antonio (WGHS)
• Maeve Carabuena (WGHS)
• Althea Tatel (WGHS)
• Adrian Alatan (WBHS)
• Ronell Rodriguez (WBHS)
• Miguel Manatad (WBHS)

The streets of Tauranga were buzzing at the end of Term 1 as the National Youth Jazz Festival took over the city. Our musicians were right in the thick of it, participating in the prestigious Youth Festival with two outstanding ensembles: the Westlake Jazz Band and our newly established, student-led combo, Crimson Collective.

The Westlake Jazz Band, under the direction of Mr. Jono Howan, delivered a high energy performance. In only our second year attending the festival, the band was awarded a Silver Award – an improvement over last year’s Bronze award – and evidence of the incredible growth and musicality this group has achieved in a very short time. Equally impressive was the debut of Crimson Collective. As a student-led jazz combo, these musicians have worked hard on their pieces – arranged by band leader Piper Donaldson. They were awarded with a Bronze Award in their very first year. For a new group to walk onto a national stage and find immediate success is a fantastic achievement.

Beyond the awards, Westlake Girls was highlighted by the festival organisers as one of the few schools presenting all-girls ensembles. We are incredibly proud of our students for not only getting involved with our Jazz Programme but also demonstrating outstanding commitment and dedication to perform on the national stage with excellence.

We are thrilled to announce that later this term, Westlake will be hosting several other all-girls jazz bands from across Auckland for a special weekend of workshops and collaboration. The weekend will culminate in a joint public concert, showcasing the collective talent of young women in jazz. It’s going to be an exciting collaborative event, so please keep an eye out for ticket details and continue to support our young musicians!

At the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand festival hosted by Carmel College in April, there were over 40 scene performances from schools across the region.

From that field, the judges selected a small number for special awards. Our students received two of these awards – one for their ensemble work in Macbeth, and one for an outstanding individual performer: Aiyana Pereira (13HSM). These awards came with South Seas Film school scholarships, giving our students access to a professional introductory film training course.

It was a standout result that recognises both collaborative excellence and individual talent and reflects the calibre of work our Drama Academy students are producing.

A huge thank you must go to the staff, whānau, and students who supported the production journey – from rehearsals and costume preparation to encouragement on performance day. Experiences like these provide invaluable opportunities for students to grow as performers, communicators, and creative thinkers. We are incredibly proud of everyone involved and look forward to seeing where their drama journeys take them next. Congratulations to all cast members for representing our school with such excellence and enthusiasm.

On Saturday 25 April, Nota Bella headed to Hamilton to perform in collaboration with Hamilton Civic Choir on ANZAC day. The concert, Kia Maumahara: Voices of Remembrance, was a powerful choral collaboration honouring memory (personal, communal and national). The performance was held at St Peter’s Cathedral and was conducted by Elise Bradley, who works with both choirs.

The programme opened with David Hamilton’s A Song of Remembrance’ a poignant modern work weaving the poem We Shall Keep the Faith with the childlike refrain “Poppy, Poppy, what should we know?”.

Nota Bella then took to the stage to perform In Flanders Fields by Alexander Tilley, based on the original poem by John McCrae.

The main work of the evening, Janet Jennings’ Anzacs: A Generation Lost in Legend set words from wartime poets, and included a small instrumental ensemble, and featured young soloists Christian Thurston, Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono and Ex-Westlake student, Bella Allen-Moetaua, alongside Nota Bella as the treble choir.

The evening included a piper and a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the fallen, attended by local dignitaries. Accompanied by organ, brass and percussion, the performance was described as a rich, reflective soundscape that honored the ANZAC spirit.

It was an unforgettable experience for our young singers to be part of such a significant commemoration and collaboration, and Nota Bella are excited to carry this momentum into their performances for the remainder of the year.