Current Music Groups

Stacchorus – All-Comers Choir (Years 9–13)

• Director: Mr Thomas Woodfield
• Open to any student who enjoys singing
• No audition required
• Rehearsals: Tuesdays 3.30pm–5.00pm and Wednesday lunchtime
• Performs at school and community events
• Focus on developing vocal skills, ensemble musicianship, and expressive, confident singing in a supportive environment

Staccoro – Auditioned Choir (Years 10–13)

• Director: Dr Jared Corbett
• Auditioned ensemble
• Rehearsals: Tuesdays 3.30pm–5.00pm
• Sectionals: Wednesday lunchtime
• Opportunities for advanced ensemble work and leadership, including performances such as The Big Sing
• Focus on refined tuning, blend, interpretation, and technical choral skills

Junior Choir (Years 3–5)

Director: Ms Ros Emeleus
Junior Choir is part of the Years 3–5 music programme

Cantare Choir (Years 6–8)

Director: Ms Ros Emeleus
Cantare Choir is an all-comers choir for Years 6–8 students. The choir sings at the weekly Tuesday morning chapel service and rehearses period 6 on a Tuesday.

St Andrew’s College has a range of orchestra suited to all ages and ability levels. Please contact Head of Music, Duncan Ferguson, if you require more information.

Preparatory Orchestra (Years 4–8 and less experienced players)

Director: Ms Ros Emeleus 
Rehearsals: Wednesday lunchtime

A beginner group designed to encourage, and up-skill younger and less experienced players. It is anticipated that this group will provide an opportunity for the inclusion of varied levels of competency through specialist arrangement and composition and encourage new students to try learning an instrument. This orchestra rehearses on Wednesday during the lunchtime.

Concert Orchestra

Director: Mr Mark Hodgkinson
Rehearsals: Thursday lunch and every other Tuesday lunchtime

An all-inclusive group for students typically in Years 7–10. The repertoire will be wide ranging including some pops and contemporary material in addition to mainstream classical. This group will be designed to build skills and provide a platform for our mid-range and more advanced players that may wish to progress to chamber orchestra. This group will play at College events and assemblies, as required.

Chamber Orchestra (Advanced and Scholarship)

Director: Mr Mark Hodgkinson
Rehearsals: Monday after school and every other Tuesday lunchtime

This will be our most advanced group. Smaller in number, it will perform challenging repertoire and provide a learning platform for our most advanced students. It will undertake competition work and festivals, play at College events and assemblies, and represent the College at public functions, as required.

Symphony Orchestra

Director: Mr Mark Hodgkinson

This group will combine the Chamber and Concert Orchestras and will be expected to perform at large College functions such as Prizegiving and Founders' Day.

Secondary School students in the Symphony Orchestra will go on a camp to Hanmer Springs early in the school year. This group meets as required in the usual Chamber or Concert Orchestra lunchtime slots. Note, students will only be in one orchestra at a time and will either be working on material for Symphony or Chamber/Concert Orchestras, but not both at once.

This is our ‘Big Band’, playing music from the swing era as well as popular tunes, funk and jazz/rock numbers. Saxophones, trumpets, trombones, guitar, bass, keyboard and drums are involved. Practice times are Friday lunchtimes in MS01 and Thursday nights from 3.30pm–5.00pm. Entry is by audition. Please see Head of Music, Duncan Ferguson, for any information.

Musicians keen on jazz music are invited to register their interest for a 4–7 piece jazz ensemble/combo. This group is made up of drums, bass (double or electric), guitar, keys and 1–3 ‘horns’. This group rehearses at 5.00pm on Thursday evenings. Entry by audition.

Soul Band is the combo, but with the addition of vocalists. Entry to this group is by invitation only by Mr Duncan Ferguson. Some auditions will be held for the singers.

This is open to all jazz musicians in the College. The emphasis is on learning jazz skills (particularly improvising) but they will also learn repertoire to compete in the Ara JazzQuest and Blenheim Southern Jam. They meet on Monday lunchtimes.

Every Monday and Friday after school, the rock school of St Andrew’s College take over the music block and play as loud as they like! Co-ordinated by Head of Music, Duncan Ferguson, there are around ten rock groups regularly rehearsing, playing gigs, writing original music and preparing for Rockquest. Register your interest with Head of Music, Duncan Ferguson, on DFE@stac.school.nz.

There is an annual fee of $50.00 to contribute towards costs of producing an album of original music.

Entry into rock school for guitarists is by an audition. The ideal School of Rock student coming in at Year 9 has:

• a show piece for skill;
• the ability to play all major and minor chords;
• can play 12 bar blues in the keys of A and D;
• a rough idea of soloing;
• the ability to contribute original ideas to a group and doesn’t need to be told exactly what to play at all times.

If a student doesn’t meet these requirements, they are encouraged work on these skills with their instrumental teacher for two terms before reapplying for Rock School.

Other groups are formed each year according to players available and the event concerned. An example is the annual Secondary Schools Chamber Music Contest, which St Andrew’s College has supported by entering several groups each year.

Note that each group has varying costs dependant on camps, competitions and trips away. See the tutor of each group for a yearly estimate.