Stand Up Stand Out performing arts awards produces top talent again

For the third year running, young performers had their chance to shine on Friday night at Auckland’s Secondary Schools Performing Arts Awards - Stand Up! Stand Out!

Students from schools from across the Auckland region, from Waiuku to Kaipara, competed for the chance to be named best in their category by industry professional judges Tonga Vaea and Rob Pome’e from Three Houses Down and Oriana Whaiapu from Request Dance Crew.

Hosted in Manukau’s TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, this year’s competition kicked off with Solo Vocalist’s singing their hearts out for the top spot. Hannah Horsefield of Kaipara College was judged best for the second year running, with Sophie Fraser’s version of Bob Dylan’s House of the Rising Sun from Waiuku College being awarded second place.

Otahuhu College shone in the group vocal section, with their group Inspired taking out first place for their outstanding performance and Soulmonics from Aorere College coming in second place.

The standard and the energy in the group dance section were equally high, with the top positions being awarded to Rewa Allstars from Manurewa High School; with Wired of Papatoetoe High School being awarded second place.

The audience were treated an instrumental selection with guitarists, violinists, saxophonists, drummer and harmonicas all competing for the top spot in the Solo Instrumental category. First place was awarded to an outstanding fiddlers permformacy by Azeria D’Souza from St Cuthberts College and second to Eden Robert’s unique harmonica performance from Western Springs College.

The final category of the night was hotly contested by seven very talented bands. Zkabby Jams of Edgeware College were judged best on the evening and along with several of the other bands managed to draw a crowd up to dance and sing along. Rubber Band from Manurewa High School followed in a very close second place.

Manager of Otara Music and Arts Centre, Greg Whaiapu says “the future of New Zealand music is in great hands” as this successful event continues to spread throughout our city.