School bands star in Sydney

Cambridge HS bands

Cambridge High School’s Concert Band and Jazz Band have returned from the Australian International Music Festival in Sydney with outstanding results.

The Concert Band received a Silver Award, while the Jazz Band earned a prestigious Gold Award, placing highest among all jazz ensembles at the festival.

A standout moment was performing on stage at the Sydney Opera House, alongside other key performances at Chatswood Concourse Concert Hall and Darling Harbour.

The Concert Band also gave the world premiere of Te Manu Haerenga, composed by Cambridge High’s head of music, Daniel Peters, and featuring taonga pūoro. Additionally, students took part in a cultural exchange with Ying Wa College from Hong Kong at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

“The trip was an unforgettable experience that showcased the talent, professionalism, and mana of Cambridge High School’s young musicians on an international stage,” Peters said.

Members of the two bands pictured outside the Sydney Opera House

 

 

 

 

 

More Recent News

Tour and a history lesson

A polished black granite monument erected in memory of Patrick Corboy, a former Waipā County chairman, featured in a Hamilton West cemetery tour undertaken by historian Lyn Williams last month. Corboy, who died in 1900…

Watch those power poles

Police are joining Waipā Networks in urging drivers to take extra care following a sharp rise in crashes involving power poles. The electricity distribution company’s crews responded to 40 vehicle-versus-pole incidents in 2025, 12 more…

Treasuring Tom Roa

Two children were in toilet cubicles at a new preschool where Māori was being taught. One called to the other ko mutu koe? (have you finished?). The response came “ae, ko mutu koe” (yes). To…

Celebrating the champions …

Two Cambridge identities made the 2026 New Year’s Honours List – Judith Hamilton becomes an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her services to rowing and Kevin Burgess a Member of…