The annual KBB Music Festival took place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral from 8-13 August.

Each year approximately 4,500 secondary students perform in 145 groups, from 50 high schools from the Auckland region and beyond. The Festival showcases school orchestras, concert bands and jazz bands and has been running for 37 years.

After the week of competition, there is a Gala Concert held on the Saturday which features the top four groups from each category, as well as presentation of awards. Each group is presented with either Commended, Highly Commended, Bronze, Silver or Gold and there are also special awards for outstanding performances. There is also an opportunity for schools to come together to workshop and perform pieces under the direction of the adjudicators, which is the Honours Orchestra and Honours Concert Band.

This year, the Westlake Symphony Orchestra entered twice – one competitive and one non-competitive programme. A total of 100 singers from Cantare and Voicemale choirs joined the orchestra to perform popular pieces ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and ‘Formula One’ for the non-competitive programme.

Westlake Girls students performed in the following groups and achieved these competition results:

• Westlake Symphony Orchestra – Premier Mixed (directed by David Squire): Gold Award; Best Performance of a Romantic Work
• Westlake Chamber Orchestra – Premier Mixed (directed by Miranda Adams): Gold Award; Best Performance of a Baroque
• Westlake Concert Band – Premier Mixed (directed by Warwick Robinson): Gold Award; Best Performance of a Work written specifically for Concert Band
• Westlake Big Band – Premier Mixed (directed by Hayley Barker): Silver Award
• Taharoto Orchestra (directed by Jono Palmer): Bronze
• Westlake Girls Symphonic Band (directed by Jono Howan): Bronze

Jono Howan was also presented with the Joyce Fisher Scholarship which offers mentorship for developing conductors.

You can check out some of the action in the YouTube videos below.