Music

These concerts held in Terms 1-3, showcasing new and emerging talent at the school and are always a great evening’s entertainment for parents and the wider community.

Bi-ennially we stage a Major Production with Marian College. 

The St Bede’s Senior Choir is directed by Mrs Helen Charlton and is made up of senior students from Year 11 to 13. They rehearse weekly and perform in college Variety Concerts and Prizegivings. In the community they join the Chapel Choir at St Mary’s ProCathedral for the annual Widor Mass and have also performed at the Ngaio Marsh Retirement Village. They compete annually in the Big Sing Competition and have collaborated with Marian College on combined items for Charity Concerts and showcase evenings.

Auditioned in the first week of the school year, all Year 9 students have the opportunity to participate in the Junior Choir which is directed by Mrs Helen Charlton. Once selected, they rehearse weekly in preparation for the Big Sing Competition in the Christchurch Town Hall and performances in the College Variety Concerts.

The Chamber Orchestra rehearses weekly in preparation for performances at the college including; Variety Concerts, Performance Evenings and functions like the Willows Cricket Dinner. Many of the members also play liturgical music at college masses and the weekly Benedictions.

The College Jazz Band consists of a number of talented instrumentalists who enjoy performing jazz standards and other covers while exploring jazz improvisation. The College Jazz Band performs regularly at events such as variety shows, assemblies, prizegivings and has competed at the CPIT JazzQuest, previously gaining a silver award.

This year the Jazz Band will be directed by Mr Julian O’Brien.

A number of groups are formed while at St Bede’s, from Year 9 through to senior levels and including combinations involving other schools. These groups all have the opportunity to participate at Rockquest and rehearsal times are given so that each group gets a fair amount of time to perfect their performance. There is equipment available but students are encouraged to bring their own which can be secured at the school. 

This volunteer group of boys are trained in Sound and Lighting. They then set up and run all technical requirements for assemblies, liturgies, masses, musicals and variety concerts. There is also the opportunity for them to gain extra credits by completing a Unit Standard in Sound Engineering which is marked by an external moderator.