New-comers bring home Silver and Gold!
Over the first three weekends of term 3, The Auckland Jazz Festival took place at the Birkenhead RSA. Westlake Girls High School made its debut appearance in the competition, entering two ensembles: The Westlake Girls Jazz Band, directed by music teacher Jono Howan, and a six piece student-led combo known as ‘The Crimson Collective’ led by Y12 Student Piper Donaldson.
The competition was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Brilliantly run and filled with high-energy performances, it gave our musicians a valuable opportunity to connect with the wider music community and hear the inspiring work happening in other schools across Auckland. Beyond their musical talents, our students represented Westlake Girls with pride and enthusiasm, supporting every group that took the stage.
The competition has wrapped up and final results were announced this week:
- Westlake Girls Jazz Band: Secured a Silver Award in the Big Band category.
- The Crimson Collective: Came away with a Gold Award in the Combo category!
The Crimson Collective’s Gold award is an especially remarkable achievement. As a student-run group in their very first year performing together, their commitment and focus as a team paid off on the big stage.
We are incredibly proud of all the students who took part. Their hard work and enthusiasm made this event a massive success. Congratulations to everyone involved – we are already looking forward to returning next year!
