Archive #53/65: Cultural Highlights of the 1990's

Music

By 1991, the jazz band had grown to 20 players including two staff members, the brass band had 12 members and the orchestra numbered 18. All groups played regularly at venues outside the school and ventured further afield to Wellington and Palmerston North. In 1996 Mr Apperley retired as Head of Music at Lindisfarne, leaving a solid foundation for all aspects of music. He was replaced by Mr. John Snowling who continued to consolidate and improve the musical reputation of the school. In 1999 his efforts were rewarded with a gold award for the combined Lindisfarne Hastings’ Girls Symphonic Band in the New Zealand National Concert Bands Festival. House music continued strongly throughout this period with the honours being passed around between the houses. Each year featured a theme such as The Beatles or Simon and Garfunkle.

Drama

During the 90’s drama flourished at Lindisfarne with a number of dramatic productions being presented most years. These ranged from one act plays to serious drama and elaborate musicals such as “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” produced in 1991. Lindisfarne was only the second New Zealand school to stage William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” in 1993 and Mrs O’Brien, the drama teacher produced a thrilling script, based on the novel. Lindisfarne won the Hawke’s Bay section of the inaugural Sheila Winn Competition in 1994 and went on to compete in the regional finals in Wellington. “Oklahoma” which was produced with Iona College in 1995 played to sold out audiences. Another musical “Big Al” was staged in 1998.

Debating

Lindisfarne debaters built on their successful foundation from previous years and again won the Hawke’s Bay Secondary Schools Senior Debating Competition in 1991. By 1999 the school was represented by seven teams in various competitions. Public Speaking and Oral Communication The number of boys taking public speaking and oral communication exams reached a zenith in 1991 with 325 boys presenting themselves for the examinations. It took two examiners a fortnight to get through all the entries. Even this record was exceeded by 1999 when 400 boys entered for various levels of speech exams.

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