Outstanding success at KBB Music Festival

The annual KBB Music Festival was held at Holy Trinity Cathedral from Monday 12 to Saturday 17 August.

It is the largest music festival of its kind in New Zealand.  Over 4,000 students took to the stage over the week-long festival, performing and competing in Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestras, Jazz Bands and Concert Bands.  

Six groups from Macleans College attended the event - Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band directed by Mr Miles, Symphonic Band directed by Yi-hsin Huang, Sinfonietta directed by Joanne Johnstone, Stage Band directed by Alberto Santarelli and Chamber Orchestra who for the first time was a student-led group.  

The ensembles represented Macleans with distinction.  Results from the festival were as follows:

• Symphonic Band – Bronze Award
• Sinfonietta – Bronze Award
• Stage Band – Silver Award
• Chamber Orchestra – Silver Award
• Concert Band – Gold Award
• Symphony Orchestra – Gold Award 

Both the Concert Band and Symphony Orchestras were invited to perform at the Gala Concerts to conclude the festival, placing them amongst the very top ensembles present.  Further to their Gold Awards, both groups were presented with special awards:

• Concert Band - Outstanding performance of an original concert band work (for their performance of Cantus Jubilante - David Shaffer)
• Symphony Orchestra - Outstanding performance of a work from the romantic period (for their performance of Nimrod and Finale from Enigma Variations - Edward Elgar)