Secondary students showcase stand out talent

Dance and musical talent was the winner at the 2009 Stand Up! Stand Out! Performing Arts Awards at TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau last Friday.

Edwina Aiono from Marcellin College won the Contemporary Music Solo Vocal award, while Babylon Rhythm from Tamaki College won the Contemporary Music Bands award.

Secondary students from 12 schools in Manukau, Auckland and Franklin made it into the finals, competing in vocals, instrumental music and dance in front of 800 supporters, for the prize money of more than $7000.

Musician Cherie Mathieson, one of the three judges at the competition, was impressed to see the students so passionate about and hugely talented in music and dance.

“From the small hall at Otara Music Arts Centre, the performers really brought it on, to the big stage here at TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre. All of the performances have been amazing,” she said.

She also offered advice to the talented youngsters. “The number one thing is to keep going,” she said.

Students from Manukau’s Aorere College came away as winners and runners up in the Group Vocal category with ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘4 Elements’. Moni Samson from Aorere College won in the solo dance category, while Rewa All Stars from Manurewa High School won the Group Dance prize.

Hadleigh Pouesi, from Sweet & Sour judged the dance section and said that he hadn’t seen talent like this anywhere else.

Stand Up! Stand Out! is an annual event organised by Manukau City Council and is open to secondary schools from across the Auckland region.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:
Photographs of the performers are available on request on 3 September.

Manukau schools represented in the finals this year were: Alfriston College, Aorere College, Mangere College, Manurewa High School and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.

They were joined by Marcellin College, Mt Albert Grammar School, Mt Roskill Grammar School, Tamaki College, Tangaroa College, Western Springs College and Waiuku College.

Stand Up! Stand Out! Placings
2009 Manukau Secondary Schools Performing Arts Awards
Finals Night: Friday 28 August 2009
Venue: Genesis Energy Theatre, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre

Contemporary Music - Solo Vocal
Winner – Edwina Aiono, Marcellin College
Runner Up – Michael Murray, Mt Roskill Grammar School

Contemporary Music - Group Vocal
Winner – The Lost Boys, Aorere College
Runner up – 4 Elements, Aorere College

Solo Dance
Winner – Moni Samson, Aorere College
Runner up – Matthew Whyte, Mt Roskill Grammar School

Group Dance
Winner – Rewa All Stars, Manurewa High School
Runner up – Retro, Aorere College

Contemporary Music - Solo Instrumental
Winner – David Cao, Mt Roskill Grammar School
Runner up – Shane Akauola, Mt Albert Grammar School

Contemporary Music - Bands
Winner – Babylon Rhythm, Tamaki College
Runner up – Emensis, Mt Roskill Grammar School

2009 Judges:
Hadleigh Pouesi – dancer (from Sweet & Sour)
Cherie Mathieson – musician (from D.I.V.A. Entertainment)
Godfrey De Grut – musician (played with Nathan Haines, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa; formerly from Che Fu & the Krates).