Oliver Lodge
The 17-year-old started playing the piano at a very young age and is looking to turn his music hobby into a career.
‘‘I’ve learnt a few instruments but piano has stuck with me and it’s been my main hobby.’’
He started singing and fell in love with the performing arts during his time at Trinity Catholic College.
‘‘I love being able to use my talents and playing for people and them enjoying it.
‘‘I love working alongside people as well for, like, school musicals to do something amazing.’’
Although he was a promising runner, he made the tough decision to focus on his music.
Nowadays, he was busy most of the time either doing assignments, making music or helping others make music.
‘‘There’s a lot of time when I’m really busy with things and I think it’s just the hard work that’s helped me be able to fit everything in.’’
Oliver said he had great teachers for music and the performing arts and his parents had helped him as well.
He was paying forward the support he had received by helping his junior peers at school.
‘‘I hope I can look back and think I’ve used all of my abilities and worked hard to help myself and others.’’
He is excited to be moving on to university next year and along with music he is considering a degree in law or commerce.
Achievements
Prefect (2024); best all-round student in year 10 (2023); NCEA level 2 excellence endorsed Centurion (2023); first in class extension maths, music and drama (2023); outstanding achievement religious education, English, geography (2023); first in class Māori, music (2023); outstanding achievement extension mathematics, English, religious education, science (2022); winner national Caritas song-writing competition (2023, 2021), runner-up (2022); Waikato University composition competition (2023); 3rd National Morrison Music Trust Shakespeare composition competition (2023); Play it Strange songwriting competition finalist (2023); winner, NZ Chamber Music contest Otago region original composition (2022); Dunedin Performing Arts Competition winner senior ensemble section (2023); arts scholarship (2023, 2022); Top TCC composer trophy (2023, 2022); senior student contributed most to arts (2023, 2022); Otago Shelia Winn Shakespeare Festival: runner-up best five-minute scene (2024), best sound 2024), best ensemble (2024, 2023), student director five-minute scene (2024); Wall of Fame (2023, 2022); blue for music, musical theatre and drama (2023) songwriting, chamber music, production and rock quest (2022); winner, drama Bishop’s Shield (2022); Otago secondary school senior boys steeplechase winner (2024); Young Vinnies (2022-2024); peer support leader (2024).
Role models
Granddad Bryan Dodds and younger cousin Thomas Walker.
Hopes for the future
A career in music.
Phoebe Harris
The 17-year-old dancer is looking forward to not having the ‘‘extra stresses’’ of high school and focus on her career.
She did about three and a-half hours of dance after school on Mondays, strength and conditioning on Tuesdays, taught a ballet class and did another hour and a-half of ballet on Wednesdays, on Thursdays and Fridays she had two hours of dance after school and she worked on the weekends.
She said she was keen to get school out of the way so she could dance all the time every day.
Phoebe plans to study contemporary at the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington next year.
‘‘Dancing has always been my thing... I started ballet when I was 3 years old.’’
She said although ballet was a great foundation for dance as she got older she leaned more towards the contemporary style.
Phoebe said she was inspired to perform in musicals when she watched a production in primary school.
She went on to perform in lots of school shows and the Taieri Musical Company’s production of Moana Jr a few years ago.
‘‘I’m quite a dramatic person and I found playing different roles and singing just made sense.
Being on stage helped to put anything else that could be happening in her life behind her.
‘‘Everything that could be going on at school, you could just put it all behind you and be in the role that you’re in and perform with other people that love it as much as you.’’
Dancing came naturally but to get better she had to work hard.
‘‘I’m not a super academic person but I get good grades because I know when to put the hard work in.’’
Achievements
Arts prefect (2024); level 1 & 2 NCEA excellence endorsed, level 1 Centurion (2022, 2023); Sheila Wynn Shakespeare Festival (2022, 2023); regional finalist National Shakespeare Schools Production (2024) direct entry recipient; Bishops Shield drama (2021-23); TheatreFest (2024); Jazz Dance NZ intermediate: honours (2023); tap dance NZ senior gold, special merit (2023); Lucidity Dance Syllabus, contemporary level 8: honours with distinction (2023); Alana Haines Australasian Ballet Award (2019, 2023); South Island Ballet Awards (2021; 2023); NZ Impact Dance Awards - 1st regionals musical theatre, 3rd nationals musical theatre (2022); cultural blues (2022, 2023); Manaakitaka Award (2023); hip-hop coaching (2022-2024); peer support (2024); ballet assistant ages 3-6 (Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz) (2020-23); ballet teacher ages 4-5 (Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz) (2024); Edmund Rice Camp - January (2024); Young Vinnies (2023, 2024); youth mass liturgy team St Peter Chanel (2020-24); Relay for Life (2024); Breakfast Club (2022, 2024); Mercy Parish cooking (2023).
Role model
Mother/teacher Lynley Harris.
Hopes for the future
Travel the world with a dance company.
