Stand Up! Stand Out! Winners Announced

Secondary school students from across Auckland took to the stage on Friday night for the finals of this year’s Manukau Secondary Schools Performing Arts Awards – Stand Up! Stand Out!

Students from 12 secondary schools in Manukau, Auckland and Franklin competed in music and dance in front of 900 school supporters, family and friends at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre.

Manukau schools were strongly represented this year. Finalists were Alfriston College, Tangaroa College, Pakuranga College, Papatoetoe High School, Clover Park Middle School, Aorere College and Mangere College.

They were joined by Tuakau College, Tamaki College and Otahuhu College as well as Mt Albert and Mt Roskill Grammar Schools.

Musician Betty-Anne Monga, one of three judges at the competition, was impressed to see so many students passionate about music and dance.

“It’s great to see the talent that’s developing and to know that right across the board, the performance industry for the future is going to be really strong,” she said.

The judges also noted the excellent musicianship of the students which was seen in the outstanding band and vocal group sections.

Full of high energy, students from Auckland’s Mt Albert Grammar School came away with one winner in solo dance and two runner-ups in the band and vocal group categories.

Holding up the Manukau front, Aorere College were winners of the vocal group category as well as runner-up (equal) in the dance group category. Papatoetoe High School’s ‘The Essence’ took away the winning prize for best band.

The evening finished with a special guest performance from all-girl band, Vivah.

Stand Up! Stand Out! is an annual Manukau Arts event open to secondary schools from across the Auckland region.

The full list of winning schools and their placing is listed below. 

Stand Up! Stand Out!
2008 Manukau Secondary Schools Performing Arts Awards
Finals Night: Friday 5 September
Venue: Genesis Energy Theatre, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre

Solo Vocalist
Winner – Mutsa Murare, Pakuranga College
Runner Up – Mavis Stowers, Tamaki College

Solo Instrumentalist
Winner – Peni Peleti, Tamaki College
Runner up – Henry Alferink, Tuakau College

Contemporary Vocal Group
Winner – Aorere Barbershop Quartet, Aorere College
Runner Up - Harmonize, Mt Albert Grammar School

Contemporary Band
Winner – The Essence, Papatoetoe High School
Runner Up - Premier Drum Line, Mt Albert Grammar School

Dance Soloist
Winner – Rhythm Attack, Mt Albert Grammar School
Runner Up – Matthew Whyte, Mt Roskill Grammar School

Dance Group
Winner – O.C. Family, Otahuhu College
Runner Up (Equal) - Existdance, Mangere College
Runner Up (Equal) – Wah Q, Aorere College

2008 Judges:
Stephen Bradshaw – contemporary dancer, choreographer
Betty-Anne Monga – musician
Kaitapu Monga – musician