Co-Curricular Music Opportunities

At Trinity there is a multi-level whānau group for musicians in Years 11-13, also known as the Music Squad, which is responsible for providing music for school activities such as assemblies and our regular Masses. In addition, the Music Squad organises musical events in aid of social justice such as our annual spring concert and a lunchtime concert for the NZ Schools Pride Week.

For more information about co-curricular music opportunities, please contact Georgie Watts.

Choir

The Trinity Choir meets regularly throughout the year and is open to all students with a passion for singing. The more experienced singers are given lead lines and the less experienced are encouraged to strive for excellence. 

There is a variety of repertoire, including a range of waiata used at school, popular music and mash-ups, as well as contemporary classical pieces. The Choir prepares throughout the year for various events in the school calendar.

Jazz Band

The Trinity Jazz Band rehearses throughout the year to prepare for school events such as open day, prizegivings, the annual spring concert, Trinity’s Got Talent and the Dunedin Youth Jazz Festival. Past alumni of the Jazz Band now play in the Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra and the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra, and have also started their own small jazz combos that can be heard around the city.

Chamber Music

Students who are having instrumental lessons are often encouraged, once they reach a certain level of performance, to join with others in small groups for the annual Chamber Music Competition. We sometimes also have individual musicians combine with students from other schools to enter the competition. This is an excellent opportunity for our students wanting to challenge themselves.

The Big Sing

The Big Sing is a high-profile event that happens nationwide. As well as being a competition of choirs, it is a celebration of vocal music across the country and Trinity Catholic College enjoys the opportunity to take part in this event with our choir whenever possible.

Showband

The Trinity Showband is the crème de la crème of the musicians at school. They provide the musical accompaniment for the major production each year. Ms Watts sets an extremely high standard for the Showband and the musicians always rise to the challenge. The instrumentalists change each year (depending on the requirements for the show). If students are interested in being considered for the Showband, they will often have to audition.

Sing Out 4 Justice Songwriting Competition

Caritas annually runs a songwriting competition that involves writing a song about a social justice theme set each year by the charity. The Trinity Year 10 Music class enters this competition, but all songwriting students are encouraged to take part. Students have had success in the competition in the past, including a win in 2021 and a highly commended result in 2022.

BandQuest

BandQuest is a live band competition for musicians in Year 8 and below. Regional competitions take place throughout the country with the winners moving on to compete in a national online final. Songs performed at BandQuest can be original compositions, but they don’t have to be.

RockQuest

RockQuest is nationwide, live music event for youth. There are two categories in the competition - band and solo/duo. All songs performed at RockQuest must be original compositions written by one or more of the performers. There are a number of stages in this competition starting with a series of regional rounds and moving through to a national final.