Macleans College ensembles achieve gold at KBB Music Festival

Macleans College’s leading music ensembles achieved strong results at this year’s KBB Music Festival, with the Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band both receiving gold awards.

The Concert Band was also selected to perform at the festival’s afternoon Gala Concert.

Held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, the annual festival attracted a record number of participating schools. Nearly 6,000 students from across the region and further afield took part over the six day event.

The Macleans College Symphony Orchestra presented a diverse programme that included an original New Zealand work by Faculty Head of Performing Arts Dr Miles, New Zealand composer Kirsten White’s newly commissioned work No Greater Love, Sousa’s energetic Circus Galop and two movements from Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

The Macleans College Concert Band presented a programme that included another newly commissioned work by Kirsten White, From Sorrow to Dancing, alongside Entry of the Gladiators, MacArthur Park and Peter Graham’s challenging work Shine as the Light.

The student-led Macleans College Chamber Orchestra was awarded silver, missing out on a gold award by just one point. The Sinfonietta and Symphonic Bands, led by Mrs Johnston and Ms Huang, also received silver awards.

The Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band will now prepare for the annual Macleans College Gala Concert on Friday 4 September at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.