Music

Music has a very high profile at St Peter’s College. The Music Faculty is housed in a modern building where there are excellent facilities with a large classroom, instrumental tuition rooms and advanced recording provisions. All Year 7 and 8 students receive obligatory musical tuition with every boy in the College learning to play a musical instrument in their first two years.

Instrumental tuitions are arranged by a range of highly qualified specialist instrumental teachers and this enables all the boys to learn a diverse range of string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. The students can take part in the many established instrumental groups in the College. These are: Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Senior Concert Band, Senior Orchestra, Senior Choir and the junior equivalents of all these groups. The senior music groups are regularly involved in regional, national and at times, international competitions, with a history of regular high achievements. It would be fair to say that in the last 15 years, the SPC Senior Concert Band, Jazz band and Senior Orchestra achieved a consistent string of fantastic awards that put St Peter’s College on the map as one of the schools with the best music programme in Auckland and in New Zealand.

Trinity College of London Music exams are offered during the year for a number of years now. It has proven a valuable tool in developing skills and motivating students.

St Peter’s College collaborates with Catholic Girls schools which gives our young men the precious opportunity to interact with young women through the wonderful experience of music. St Peter’s collaborate with Baradene College of Sacred Heart through the Chamber Music programme and also the Combined Senior Symphony Orchestra programme. These collaborations have brought amazing accolades and awards at competitions and festivals to both the schools.

The highlight of the year is St Peter’s College Music Night where the Music Department presents all aspects and levels of music at the College. There are numerous other events within the school and outside the school in which the Music Faculty participates.

The Music Department recording studio has produced a number of recordings for College groups and outside groups, including some international visitors. The Music Department has a dynamic team of dedicated teachers, musicians with international experiences who are supported by an energetic group of parents called The Friends of Music.

Antun Poljanich

HOF Performance Music
E: apoljanich@st-peters.school.nz