OPPORTUNITIES

The Arts / Ngā Toi

Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe me maunga teitei

⠂Connect ⠂Communicate ⠂Collaborate ⠂Create ⠂Celebrate 

Hillmorton High School offers students a wide range of co-curricular activities, providing the opportunity for students to be involved in the wider life of the school. 

The Arts are extremely well-served at Horomaka.  Students are able to select from a wide range of activities in Art, Music, Dance, Drama and Cultural Groups. Many of our Arts staff have careers in the Arts and continue to perform or practice and are well-qualified specialists.

Congratulations to the winners of the Performing Arts raffle.  The list of all winners can be viewed via this link.

There are opportunities offered on a regular basis with visiting performers and teachers and instrumental and vocal tuition is available from well-qualified visiting teachers under the Itinerant Music Scheme.  Specialist musicians – both school employed and itinerant from Forte are employed.

Tuition is available in: 

  • Flute
  • Drums
  • Voice
  • Clarinet & Saxophone
  • Ukulele
  • Guitar
  • Keyboard
  • Brass (Trombone/ Trumpet/ French Horn)
  • Bass Guitar
  • Violin/Viola 

This tuition is free of charge and there are a limited number of instruments available for hire.  Please contact the Head of Music using the following address: bainbridgg@hillmorton.school.nz for further information. 

Forte Itinerant music

For more information go to: https://www.forteitm.com/

Performing Ensembles

There are opportunities to be involved in choirs, vocal groups and bands, (depending on student numbers).  Students have the opportunity to participate in national and local events such as the Wind Festival, Smokefree Rockquest, Christchurch Secondary Schools’ Orchestral Festival, the Primary Schools’ Music  Festival and the Cultural Festival. We regularly have the opportunity to be involved in enrichment  activities. 

Enrichment Opportunities

Being able to attend live performances is vital.  We are committed to ensuring that our students have the opportunity to participate in enrichment and extension programmes in the Arts.  These have included Design and Creative workshops with New Zealand Opera, performances by national and local musicians such as the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.  Students are often invited to participate in composition workshops and regularly are able to meet with and learn from working musicians as part of exploring career development opportunities.

Artist PRINS shares her experiences with Students

CSO Education programme  –  perform for students in Year 7 and 8

  

As well as being able to be studied as part of a course, there is the possibility to undertake Dance as a co-curricular activity.  There are numerous performing opportunities.  We have been a part of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Education Programme.  There may be an auditioned dance group with associated costs.  We are regularly involved in Performing Arts events such as Showquest and DanceNZ Made.   A number of students attend a ballet class and a number also learn outside of School.  Cultural Dance is also a part  of Polyfest.

Showquest and DanceNZ Made

This is a popular event that showcases the performing arts. This usually occurs in Term 1 and part of Term 2. 

DRAMA

We have always enjoyed a strong and visible presence at Hillmorton with many former students subsequently going on to enjoy success at such tertiary providers as Hagley Theatre Company, Toi Whakaari, Ara, Broadcasting School and/or NASDA.  Many ex-students are also now on Radio and TV programmes in New Zealand.

Many opportunities are available at all levels. As well as Drama as a subject, Theatresports and an Improv Group are activities students enjoy.  We are involved in Sheilah Winn Festival and when possible, there will be a school production.  Year 7 and 8 students enjoy Drama as part of their ‘ Explore” learning programme.  Students will also have the opportunity to attend live performances with visiting groups such as NZ Playhouse or attending performances with  the Court Theatre and other companies.

CULTURAL GROUPS

We offer students opportunities to be involved in Kapahaka and our Pasifika Cultural Group.  Year 7 and 8 students often perform at events such as Primary Schools’ Cultural Festivals and at school events such as our Cushion Concert.  We regularly participate in the Spacpac, Polyfest. 

See this year’s Polyfest performance here, we hope you enjoy this performance as much as our students did.

VISUAL ART

Hillmorton has a long history of a great art teaching and learning programme.  Students can participate in a wide range of visual arts experiences at places such as the Christchurch Art Gallery.  An Arts student committee and Arts Club exist and there are a number of opportunities for our artists to exhibit in a range of contexts.  We have recently implemented an annual Spring Arts Festival.

Hillmorton  Students’ Work as part of Scape Art Exhibition, 2019. Vaka’a Hina