The Otago Secondary Schools Music Festival is an annual concert celebration of communal music making and achievement for secondary school students of Otago. The upcoming 2017 show will be the Festivals 48th annual concert.
The Festival Concert attracts some 700 students from up to 20 schools from the Otago area. School groups come from as far as Oamaru, Balclutha, the Catlins, Alexandra and Cromwell.
The show features a massed choir, orchestra, concert band, string orchestra and jazz band. It also includes several spots for individual school groups to display their talents. A feature of the concerts is that we showcase a variety of individual groups who have achieved success in that year.
Highlights this year will include
- The massed choir and orchestra performing a medley of songs from the Lion King, arranged by Dunedin composer Sam van Betuw.
- The massed orchestra performance of an arrangement of Richard Strauss’ legendary tone poem ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’.
- A welcoming waiata from the Kings and Queens High School’s cultural group.
- The Smokefree Rockquest 2017 winning group, ‘Carmina’.
- The chamber music regional winners ‘Aurora Verdi’.
- Plus much more!
Another regular feature is an award, 'the Trustpower Tertiary Music Scholarship', given to an ex-participant of the festival who is continuing their music studies at a tertiary level. The recipient of this years' award will perform as part of the programme.
The event represents the culmination of months of work by Dunedin’s secondary school’s music teachers and the instrumental teachers who support their learning. Over the 48 years of the festival’s running, thousands of Dunedin’s young musicians have used the opportunity to gain early experience in performing to a high standard, in a sharing environment, in our wonderful Town Hall.
We welcome all members of the public to join us for this festive occasion. Because of Dunedin Venues financial support we are able to offer this concert for free admission. We would also like to acknowledge the Otago Community Trust and Trustpower for their generous contributions to this very worthy musical endeavour.
The Otago Secondary Schools Music Festival will take place this year on Monday 11 September, 6.30pm, at the Dunedin Town Hall.
See you there!
