KEY POINTS:
They came to bring music to the animals but the animals didn't want a bar of it.
About 175 Pt Chevalier School students headed to Auckland Zoo yesterday to perform a series of original music compositions, inspired by the zoo's inhabitants.
Each of the seven classes performed works inspired by a different species - including elephants, flamingos, koi carp, lions, spider monkeys, macaws and Galapagos tortoises.
The monkeys sat huddled, suspiciously eyeing up their visitors while the neighbouring macaws violently squawked their protest.
The elephants were more obliging, happy to munch their breakfast in front of the crowd, but were quick to turn their backs once the food was gone.
But the animals' apparent distaste for the students' musical offerings was of little concern to the budding composers, who had spent the past two months rehearsing for the concert.
Working alongside Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra cellist Katherine Hebley, the students played a variety of classroom instruments, as well as a few of their own making.
Performing arts teacher Chris Moore said the project had been an interesting experience.
Seven-year-old Connor Trevalyan played the drums during the spider monkey composition, which represented the thump of monkeys landing on trees. "We did a lot of practising. It took a long time to get to here."
