Reflection on 2021

What a year it has been. As I reflect on 2021, a difficult year in so many ways, I am straight away drawn to the positives:

- Confortare Per Mariam; combined choir with Marist College began and proudly performed at The Big Sing in the Auckland Town Hall.

- Footloose; a combined production with Auckland Girls' Grammar saw many of our young performers step out of their comfort zones and excel themselves as actors, musicians, dancers and back stage crew. This show was a great success.

- The college choir performed with Hollie Smith and Tone6 at the All Blacks vs Tonga game at Mt Smart Stadium. What an experience for these young men!

- The senior mass band stepped up through student leadership and confidently led our mass occasions, and were still able to perform through video link at our end of year prize giving, demonstrating that lockdown restrictions couldn't take away the joy these young man have in sharing their musical talent.

- Curriculum music classes have continued to see a range of talented young men performing and growing as musicians. St Paul's College is blessed with many talented young men!

These, and so many other highlights of being part of music in 2021, have shown me that our goal of normalising performance culture in the college is well under way. Our young men always amaze me as they continually step up and aim for more. I am excited about what 2022 has in store for our young musicians at St Paul's College!

If your son would like to audition to join the combined choir in 2022, I will happily talk him through the video audition process. Rehearsals will take place each Tuesday after school at Marist College.

I encourage all of our musicians to continue to make instrumental practice a habit over the school holidays.

Finally, I wish you and your family a safe and happy Christmas season. Thank you all for making 2021 a great year, despite the obstacles.