House Music sees bar raised again

FUNKSTERS: The winning Rathkeale College Blake House small group performing Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars at the traditional House Music competition. PHOTOSSUPPLIED

Rathkeale College and St Matthew's Collegiate School wrapped up another year of House Music Competition with spectacular performances to end term three.

The long-standing tradition is an annual highlight for the school community and showcases the fantastic musical talent and school spirit present in both schools, according to Natalie Finnigan, marketing and communications manager for Trinity Schools.

"Although the contest is held in the spirit of fun and inclusiveness, the effort put into preparation for the performances is serious," she said.

The cultural prefects and leaders for each school house co-ordinate their house group's performance of two songs - a contemporary track of their choosing and a hymn. Rathkeale College's competition also includes a small group performance category. "The house groups practise all term, with student musicians accompanying each house choir and perfecting their arrangement of the songs," Ms Finnigan said.

The audience of family and friends at the performances this year were entertained with songs ranging from Bruno Mars's Uptown Funk to the hymn How Great Thou Art.

The St Matthew's competition, held in the second to last week of term, was dominated by Grey House, which won Best House overall, Best Song, Best Student Accompaniment and Best Hymn, with house member Lauren Tonkin winning the prize for Best Student Arrangement.

Cobham House Leader Makaylah Julian won the award for Best Conductor.

St Matthew's principal Kiri Gill said the House Music Competition was always a magical night that celebrated success and diversity. "Every girl at school takes part in the House Music and it fosters such a wonderful house and school spirit by giving the senior students responsibility for organising and teaching the younger girls," she said.

"It also gives all of our girls the opportunity to experience what it's like to perform for a big crowd, and every year the bar is raised as they strive to be more creative and more brilliant than the year before."

Ms Gill said the musical competition was a highlight of the school year for staff and parents.

"It's always such a delight to witness the exuberance of our girls, and audience first-timers are often overwhelmed by how professional it is."

Rathkeale's competition, held on the last Friday of term, was "similarly spectacular", Ms Finnigan said.

Halberg House won Best House overall, Best Hymn and Best Song. Blake won Best Small Group and Best Accompanying Group and their House Leader Sam Kyle won Best Conductor.

Rathkeale principal Willie Kersten said the House Music tradition was "a wonderful way of giving every boy a chance to experience what it's like to perform".

"I always love to see boys who aren't necessarily born performers or our star musicians and singers taking the chance to step out of their comfort zone and have a go.

"Their contribution to the team effort is amazing," Mr Kersten said.