We offer an extensive Arts programme through our Visual Arts, Music, Dance and Drama departments along with a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities. Participation and excellence in all areas of the Arts is encouraged and celebrated with many of our students achieving highly in their respective fields. Visual Arts, Drama and Music are offered from Year 9 through to Year 13. As the demand for Dance grows, access to the NCEA senior levels will be available.
Contact
If you would like to contact us about our arts and cultural events, please contact our Arts Coordinator, Monica Parker.
Contact
If you would like to contact us about our arts and cultural events, please contact our Arts Coordinator, Monica Parker.
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For the latest arts news and events at WHS, please visit our Facebook page: Wakatipu High School Queenstown. |
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Follow WHS's arts instagram page @whsartdepartment for a celebration of the many talented students and the work they do within visual art, music, dance and drama at our school.
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PERFORMING ARTS
Community Involvement Opportunities
Our Drama and Performing Arts students support the local theatre companies: Showbiz, Remarkables Theatre and Whirlwind Productions. Students not only take part on stage but help with tech support in areas such as make up, hair and costume, sound and lighting.
Teacher in Charge: Jake Hansen
Musical
Every year we produce a successful school musical involving close to a hundred students from all levels of the school. Opportunities for involvement cover areas ranging from acting, dancing and band through to the various tech crews which include, hair, makeup, sound, lighting, front of house, programme design and more. It is the highlight of the year for many of the students and provides considerable leadership opportunities as they assume responsibility for the various crews. The show takes place in Term One with four performances to the public, however, due to Covid restrictions, the 2022 Musical has been moved to the end of Term 3. We are still underway with practices in Term 1 and will showcase aspects of the production at the end of term. Information regarding the Musical can be found in the school newsletter and Performing Arts classroom. This will include information on how to join the musical crews as the term progresses.
Teachers in Charge: Jake Hansen and Alison Price
One Act Play
One Act Play is a national competition for schools and community groups which celebrates New Zealand theatre. There are three different stages of the competition: heats, regionals and nationals in Wellington. The competition provides excellent opportunities for students as both actors and directors. Details can be found on the Performing Arts Classroom.
Teacher in Charge: Jake Hansen
Pasifika
The Wakatipu High School Pasifika group welcomes all students wanting to learn, and/or contribute to dances from around the Pacific. Last year, we took on the challenge of learning a sāsā, and will continue this year, perfecting a school sāsā. We hope the Central Otago Polyfest runs this year, and we can give an on stage performance later in the year. Practices will be once a fortnight at a lunch time suited to the majority of the group. More practices will be required closer to Polyfest.
Teacher in Charge: Erin Sefo
Performing Art Theatre Tour
Year 12 and Year 13 Performing Arts students visit a commercial theatre in Christchurch, Invercargill or Dunedin to witness life as part of a theatre company. They get a backstage tour, meet the crews and attend whichever play or musical is on at the time.
Teacher in Charge: Jake Hansen
SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival
The Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Competition involves 5 or 15 minute scenes of famous Shakespearean plays. This group usually has two student directors and auditions for the group are held in Term 1. Students interested should join the Performing Arts classroom.
Tech Club Sound and Lighting
Mentors teach students the basics of lighting and sound. Groups may meet at breaks or after-school. Students are encouraged to join the Tech Club classroom to receive updates for times and locations. Teachers in Charge: Michael Eden and Paul Inger
Our Drama and Performing Arts students support the local theatre companies: Showbiz, Remarkables Theatre and Whirlwind Productions. Students not only take part on stage but help with tech support in areas such as make up, hair and costume, sound and lighting.
Teacher in Charge: Jake Hansen
Musical
Every year we produce a successful school musical involving close to a hundred students from all levels of the school. Opportunities for involvement cover areas ranging from acting, dancing and band through to the various tech crews which include, hair, makeup, sound, lighting, front of house, programme design and more. It is the highlight of the year for many of the students and provides considerable leadership opportunities as they assume responsibility for the various crews. The show takes place in Term One with four performances to the public, however, due to Covid restrictions, the 2022 Musical has been moved to the end of Term 3. We are still underway with practices in Term 1 and will showcase aspects of the production at the end of term. Information regarding the Musical can be found in the school newsletter and Performing Arts classroom. This will include information on how to join the musical crews as the term progresses.
Teachers in Charge: Jake Hansen and Alison Price
One Act Play
One Act Play is a national competition for schools and community groups which celebrates New Zealand theatre. There are three different stages of the competition: heats, regionals and nationals in Wellington. The competition provides excellent opportunities for students as both actors and directors. Details can be found on the Performing Arts Classroom.
Teacher in Charge: Jake Hansen
Pasifika
The Wakatipu High School Pasifika group welcomes all students wanting to learn, and/or contribute to dances from around the Pacific. Last year, we took on the challenge of learning a sāsā, and will continue this year, perfecting a school sāsā. We hope the Central Otago Polyfest runs this year, and we can give an on stage performance later in the year. Practices will be once a fortnight at a lunch time suited to the majority of the group. More practices will be required closer to Polyfest.
Teacher in Charge: Erin Sefo
Performing Art Theatre Tour
Year 12 and Year 13 Performing Arts students visit a commercial theatre in Christchurch, Invercargill or Dunedin to witness life as part of a theatre company. They get a backstage tour, meet the crews and attend whichever play or musical is on at the time.
Teacher in Charge: Jake Hansen
SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival
The Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Competition involves 5 or 15 minute scenes of famous Shakespearean plays. This group usually has two student directors and auditions for the group are held in Term 1. Students interested should join the Performing Arts classroom.
Tech Club Sound and Lighting
Mentors teach students the basics of lighting and sound. Groups may meet at breaks or after-school. Students are encouraged to join the Tech Club classroom to receive updates for times and locations. Teachers in Charge: Michael Eden and Paul Inger
MUSIC
Music Opportunities
Band Hub
This is a group for students who want to be in a band and are looking for other band members. Students get a chance to jam with other musicians from the school with itinerant teachers supporting them. Once in a band, each group has a music mentor to support the band’s progress. Students interested should join the Musos Classroom. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Big Break
This is an event run through WHS with the assistance of Rockformation featuring student bands/musicians from our school. It is an opportunity for musicians at all levels to showcase their skills and have the experience of a live event. This is usually run ahead of the Rockquest local Regional for a practice run. Students interested should join the Musos Classroom.
Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Central Soundwaves
An event organised through the Rockformation that gives student musicians an opportunity to perform in front of their peers and win prizes. This is a great chance for musicians to showcase their skills and occurs towards the end of the year. For more information, students interested should join the Musos Classroom. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Chamber Music Group
This group that involves string and woodwind instruments and runs during one break a week. It focus is on classical musicand gives students the experience of playing in a small performance group.
Teacher in Charge: Natasha Matla
Choir
A group for both beginner and advanced singers. The choir usually has weekly rehearsals after school. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we will delay the start of this group until restrictions have been reduced.
Digital Music Production
The main objective is to dedicate 40 minutes per week to using digital music production software - Ableton - as a tool to create music. Students will spend time learning and experimenting with Ableton. The group will look for different kinds of inspiration and take on some fun challenges to broaden their options for musical creativity and production. This group is not for mixing and mastering. Students must be prepared to commit to the whole year. Students must join the classroom to show interest.
Teacher in Charge: Michael Jefferson
Itinerant Music Lessons
These lessons run throughout the year and are provided by the ministry of education. Depending on the instrument there may be costs for instrument hire but the lessons themselves are free of charge. The priority is for those students taking Music as a subject and is essential for anyone considering senior music courses unless they have access to lessons outside of school. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Our tutors are: Michael Eden, Vince Leahy, Alistair Monteath and Ned Webster
Orchestra
This group is for students interested in joining a junior orchestra. This group predominantly plays classical orchestral music. This is open to anyone who plays an orchestral instrument and has been playing for at least a couple of years before joining this group. Performances happen throughout the year. Teacher in Charge: Natasha Matla
Rockquest
Rockquest is a national event that focuses on rock music. It has been running for many years and WHS bands, soloists and duos have featured successfully throughout that time with bands making it to both the national Top 30 and final top 10 sections. It has two categories in solo/duo and band and alternates between Wanaka and Queenstown for the regional section of the competition. This is open to any band/acoustic acts and is a key event in the music calendar. Students interested should join the Musos Classroom. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Winterfest
Various WHS Rock Bands perform on the community stages at Winterfest. Another great opportunity for students to experience live performances. Students interested should join the Musos Classroom. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
This is a group for students who want to be in a band and are looking for other band members. Students get a chance to jam with other musicians from the school with itinerant teachers supporting them. Once in a band, each group has a music mentor to support the band’s progress. Students interested should join the Musos Classroom. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Big Break
This is an event run through WHS with the assistance of Rockformation featuring student bands/musicians from our school. It is an opportunity for musicians at all levels to showcase their skills and have the experience of a live event. This is usually run ahead of the Rockquest local Regional for a practice run. Students interested should join the Musos Classroom.
Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Central Soundwaves
An event organised through the Rockformation that gives student musicians an opportunity to perform in front of their peers and win prizes. This is a great chance for musicians to showcase their skills and occurs towards the end of the year. For more information, students interested should join the Musos Classroom. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Chamber Music Group
This group that involves string and woodwind instruments and runs during one break a week. It focus is on classical musicand gives students the experience of playing in a small performance group.
Teacher in Charge: Natasha Matla
Choir
A group for both beginner and advanced singers. The choir usually has weekly rehearsals after school. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we will delay the start of this group until restrictions have been reduced.
Digital Music Production
The main objective is to dedicate 40 minutes per week to using digital music production software - Ableton - as a tool to create music. Students will spend time learning and experimenting with Ableton. The group will look for different kinds of inspiration and take on some fun challenges to broaden their options for musical creativity and production. This group is not for mixing and mastering. Students must be prepared to commit to the whole year. Students must join the classroom to show interest.
Teacher in Charge: Michael Jefferson
Itinerant Music Lessons
These lessons run throughout the year and are provided by the ministry of education. Depending on the instrument there may be costs for instrument hire but the lessons themselves are free of charge. The priority is for those students taking Music as a subject and is essential for anyone considering senior music courses unless they have access to lessons outside of school. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Our tutors are: Michael Eden, Vince Leahy, Alistair Monteath and Ned Webster
Orchestra
This group is for students interested in joining a junior orchestra. This group predominantly plays classical orchestral music. This is open to anyone who plays an orchestral instrument and has been playing for at least a couple of years before joining this group. Performances happen throughout the year. Teacher in Charge: Natasha Matla
Rockquest
Rockquest is a national event that focuses on rock music. It has been running for many years and WHS bands, soloists and duos have featured successfully throughout that time with bands making it to both the national Top 30 and final top 10 sections. It has two categories in solo/duo and band and alternates between Wanaka and Queenstown for the regional section of the competition. This is open to any band/acoustic acts and is a key event in the music calendar. Students interested should join the Musos Classroom. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Winterfest
Various WHS Rock Bands perform on the community stages at Winterfest. Another great opportunity for students to experience live performances. Students interested should join the Musos Classroom. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price
Jazz
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Jazz Band (Big Band/Combo)
We have two jazz bands which practise every Wednesday after school. The bands participate in jazz festivals throughout the year which are explained in more detail below. Students should have at least two to three years of instrumental learning to be part of these groups and will need to audition for the combo group. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price Blenheim Jazz Festival The Blenheim jazz trip has been a regular fixture on the WHS calendar for many years and is an excellent opportunity for the jazz musicians. Involving around 15 schools and more than 20 acts, the Blenheim event includes performances to the public, a masterclass, competition and the opportunity to observe other schools. This is one of the best learning experiences, and we have been fortunate to achieve some great results over the past few years. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price Invercargill Jazz Festival The Invercargill Jazzfest has been a regular fixture for our jazz combo over many years as we compete against other bands around the region. A great event to round off the jazz year. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price Queenstown Jazz Festival The Queenstown Jazz festival is another opportunity for our jazz bands to perform and is one of the few times where we get to play in front of our local community. Teacher in Charge: Alison Price Junior Jazz Band The junior jazz group provides the basic skills for students who want to progress into the senior band. It operates at one break a week and brings together students from all levels of playing in Years 9/10. Teacher in Charge: Natasha Matla |
PC: Sheena Haywood and Sam Clark
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VISUAL ARTS
Visual Arts Opportunties
After School Art Club
A club for students to carry on with work from class or get creative and experiment with various art media and techniques. Join the classroom for times and locations. Teacher in Charge: Abbey Brown
Clay Club
A club for students and teachers to relax and experiment with clay. Completed work can be fired in the school kiln. Join the classroom for times and locations. Teacher in Charge: Leslie Koehn
Emerging Creatives
The WHS Design students exhibit their work annually in an exhibition called
‘Emerging Creatives’. At the beginning of the year, the Year 12 and 13 design students construct individualised briefs which they create a series of promotional work throughout the year. One of the brief specifications is to design a poster. The students are required to create a series of potential ideas and to work in a development sequence where they work toward a final resolved poster. Teacher in Charge:Leslie Koehn
Showing Off
An annual art exhibition held at the Lakes District Museum. This exhibition shares the previous year’s work of students who received Excellence for their final art folios of Painting, Design or Photography. At the end of the exhibition, there is a people’s choice award that is presented to a student from each discipline. Teacher in Charge: Leslie Koehn
End Of Year Senior Folio Exhibition
Senior students have the opportunity to display their final folio in a collection of the work completed for the year which is then sent away to be assessed. Teachers in Charge: Leslie Koehn and Abbey Brown
Visiting Artists
Different local artists and musicians are asked to come into the school and teach or share their experiences with our students. This often happens during normal class times when not on Covid 19 restrictions.
A club for students to carry on with work from class or get creative and experiment with various art media and techniques. Join the classroom for times and locations. Teacher in Charge: Abbey Brown
Clay Club
A club for students and teachers to relax and experiment with clay. Completed work can be fired in the school kiln. Join the classroom for times and locations. Teacher in Charge: Leslie Koehn
Emerging Creatives
The WHS Design students exhibit their work annually in an exhibition called
‘Emerging Creatives’. At the beginning of the year, the Year 12 and 13 design students construct individualised briefs which they create a series of promotional work throughout the year. One of the brief specifications is to design a poster. The students are required to create a series of potential ideas and to work in a development sequence where they work toward a final resolved poster. Teacher in Charge:Leslie Koehn
Showing Off
An annual art exhibition held at the Lakes District Museum. This exhibition shares the previous year’s work of students who received Excellence for their final art folios of Painting, Design or Photography. At the end of the exhibition, there is a people’s choice award that is presented to a student from each discipline. Teacher in Charge: Leslie Koehn
End Of Year Senior Folio Exhibition
Senior students have the opportunity to display their final folio in a collection of the work completed for the year which is then sent away to be assessed. Teachers in Charge: Leslie Koehn and Abbey Brown
Visiting Artists
Different local artists and musicians are asked to come into the school and teach or share their experiences with our students. This often happens during normal class times when not on Covid 19 restrictions.
The Cultural Blues Awards is the most formal Arts event in Wakatipu High School's annual calendar, and celebrates excellence, achievement, service and leadership across all areas of the Arts. Students can receive Annual Blues awards for leadership and achievements, Service Blues for participation and effort and Achievement Blues for success at regional and national level. There are also Junior Achievement Blues recognising success for students in the junior school. The most prestigious category, the 'Outstanding Blue', is reserved for those who attain extraordinary cultural success.
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