Gala Concert celebrates outstanding year of performing arts

More than 300 Macleans College students took to the stage at the ASB Waterfront Theatre for this year’s Gala Concert, presenting an impressive showcase of the school’s premier performing arts groups.

The concert brought together ensembles that have achieved outstanding results throughout 2026, providing a fitting celebration of another successful year in the performing arts.

The concert opened with Kapa Haka under the guidance of Mr Reed. The group reached an important milestone earlier this year, performing at ASB Polyfest for the first time in Macleans College history.

The Macleans College Dance Academy followed with a high-energy performance featuring precisely executed choreography across multiple dance genres. The Academy has enjoyed a successful year, with its Ballet team, Prestige, placing third at this year’s National Dance Challenge.  Dance team Sovereign placed fifth at DanceNZMade.

The newly established premier boys’ and girls’ choirs, Vox Virtus and Voce Castello, made their Gala Concert debuts. Voce Castello recently received the Wharauroa Award at the Upper North Island Cadenza Festival.

They performed alongside the Macleans College Chorale, which remained in competition-ready form following its selection for the 2026 Big Sing Finale.  At the Finale, the Chorale received a silver award and the Auahi Kore Award for Best Performance of a piece in Te Reo Māori.

Kupe Small House Choir performed its winning item from this year’s Small House Choir Competition. Talent Quest winners In Thirds completed the vocal programme.

The second half of the concert featured Macleans College’s instrumental groups. Concert Band performed Peter Graham’s Shine As the Light, following a successful year that included gold awards at both the National Concert Band Championships and the KBB Music Festival.

The student-led Chamber Orchestra brought a lighter touch with Leroy Anderson’s Fiddle Faddle. The Symphony Orchestra then performed Nimrod and the Finale from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations. The orchestra also received a gold award at this year’s KBB Music Festival.

The evening concluded with two major performances involving a combined Symphony Orchestra and Choirs ensemble of more than 200 students. Joseph Martin’s The Awakening and Christopher Tin’s Baba Yetu were enthusiastically received by the capacity audience.

Audience members then joined the performers for a lively finale with Sousa’s Circus Galop, bringing the Gala Concert to a memorable close.

Photos available for purchase at BC Photography