Director of Cultural Activities: Ms Nikki Bentley
Email: n.bentley@kingscollege.school.nz
The College philosophy has at its heart the concept of providing our students with a 'balanced education'. To this end our students not only take part in academic, sporting and community service activities, but they are also encouraged to participate in a wide variety of cultural activities. In this way, students are exposed as artists, as well as being spectators to the visual and performing arts, thus enhancing appreciation and hopefully helping each student reach personal fulfillment.
Cultural activities fall into three broad areas namely music, drama and the visual arts and are a mix of the academic curriculum and extra curricular activities.
The Director of Music, Mr Paul West, runs a thriving Music School situated at the end of the drive and the exciting Visual Arts programme is directed by the Head of Art, Mr Chas Foxall in the Design Technology Building. Both the aforementioned programmes expose our students to the pleasures of their respective art forms.
Drama is offered in the form of three groups operating out of the Great Hall at various times of the year. From 2011, The Glee Club produces a musical at the end of Term 1, Senior Drama at the end of Term 2 and Junior Drama at the end of Term 3. The drama productions are normally directed by guest directors sourced outside of the College. This year, all three productions will be directed by june Renwick, who in 2010 directed Senior Drama's, 'A View From the Bridge'. King’s offers Speech and Drama lessons, which are conducted on a private basis and they augment the College’s dramatic opportunities.
The House Music competition is a wonderful opportunity for all College students to participate in a cultural competition. The trophies for 'Big House' and 'Small House' are competed for in an enthusiastic manner. The event has become so popular of late, that Big House has been moved to Telstra Clear Event Centre. This year, Small House will be held on Friday 13th May and Big House onFriday 20th May - both Term 2 events.
The Kapa Haka group is a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore their indigenous heritage. Membership of this group is drawn from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Each year the group performs at the Polynesian Festival.
We are very fortunate in having created an ethos at the College where participation in the various cultural activities is seen by students as not only an important part of their education, but also a real opportunity for them to enjoy and excel in a different area of endeavour. Various inter-House competitions un throughout the year.
A student cultural co ordinator, Sam Jaffe (Year 13, Major) and a student cultural committee tap into the needs of students and keeps the student body informed of the variety of activities happening around the College. A thriving residency programme in the arts and regular lunch time concerts for the arts ensures that our students are exposed to cultural enrichment, skills development and creative self-expression.
We pride ourselves on the high standards reached in the arts at the College and take pleasure in the fact that a growing number of students go out into the world wanting to explore further career options as visual artists, actors, singers, musicians and technicians.
