Centennial Concert Delights Crowd

MCed by Te Radar (a.k.a. Andrew Lumsden, HBHS Old Boy), the Founder's Theatre Centennial Concert on Thursday night was a powerhouse of international, national and emerging acts.  From a charming opera duet by Lorraine Nawa Jones and her husband, to the stirring vocalisation of Chris Thompson (pictured right) performing 'The Voice' with choral support from students and fellow singers, the evening provided a night of world class entertainment.

Adrian Botting, head of the Languages, Arts and Music faculty, reflected upon the event:

What was your over-all impression of the evening?

It was a stunning event.  I've had very positive feedback from people who were very glad that they made the time to come and see the talent associated with all three schools. We struck a good balance between the different musical genres, and it is genuinely staggering to see how many Old Boys and Girls have gone on to have not only national by international careers in their chosen fields.

Tell us a little about the preparation involved in bringing these artists together.

I had the original idea for the concert several months ago.  Initially I was concerned that it might be a bit too ambitious, but I was pleasantly suprised by the number of key players who were prepared to come back to the school, and perform gratis as part of the centennial celebrations.  Co-ordinating so many of the headline acts, particularly those that came from overseas was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, but it all came together very well, with Margie Wynn-Jones working hard on the Girls' High side, and my team and I at Boys' HIgh.  Daniel Peters was instrumental in helping to make the event happen - he should be mentioned in this report, and thanked.  Many of the band members are internationally experienced performers, and gave us practical and moral support in the lead up to the 17th.

Where were performers travelling in from?

Lorraine Nawa Jones and her husband travelled from Italy.  Chris Thompson happened to be in New Zealand at the time - he literally travelled back to Belgium on the day after the concert was held. 

What were the stand out moments for you personally?

The last song 'The Voice' with all of the performers on stage was pretty special. I was amazed at how well people took to the different types of music, from barbershop to classical piano.  Te Radar tied everything together superbly.  There is no better way of getting people together for the beginning of an important celebration like the Centennial, than by showcasing the talents of people who have graduated from the schools.  Our Old Boys and Girls are why the Centennial is important - it was great to welcome them.