Next week, Dilworth will take more students than ever before to the KBB Music Festival, the largest secondary school instrumental music festival in the Southern Hemisphere. The Festival, which has been running since 1983, celebrates music performed by some of NZ’s finest young musicians. It attracts talented students from over 50 schools across the greater Auckland region and beyond who perform in orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands, and chamber orchestras.
It is an incredibly exciting time for Dilworth’s music team and students, with 120 students attending the festival – one-fifth of the entire school population! Record numbers of students are now capable of playing at this level, and for the first time, Dilworth will have its own Senior Chamber Orchestra joining our Concert and Big Bands, with Fortissimo, our elite choir, also supporting our musicians.
This phenomenal achievement is due to the vision of the Head of Performing Arts at Dilworth, Mr David Stent, and to Mr Rhys Kingaby, Director of Instrumental Music and Year 9 Dean.
Instrumental music has come a long way in a short time. While Dilworth has always encouraged instrument music, the level has accelerated since dedicated instrumental director Mr Rhys Kingaby took the reins. Rhys, who was previously Head of Music at a school in the south island, was appointed early in 2023. He illustrates just how far Dilworth students have progressed:
“I remember seeing the Senior Concert Band playing at prize giving five years ago. Now the Year 8 Concert Band are playing at that same level today”.
This demonstrates huge progress in musical capability at Dilworth, but Rhys says this is just the start. He has a vision to make Dilworth a centre for excellence in instrumental music, and his evident passion is infectious! He believes Dilworth has all the ingredients to be one of the best music departments in Auckland. Rhys says it is exciting to see the increasing number of junior students coming through the school with a passion for music, which will flow through the school.
“Knowing where the school could go with the talent of our students, coupled with the opportunity of the Dilworth scholarship, is an exciting prospect for the future”.
Dilworth has always been strongly committed to music. Every student at the Junior Campus plays an instrument, receives weekly lessons, the provision of an instrument and is required to play in an ensemble as part of their curriculum. They are also offered the opportunity to watch musical performances out in the community and connect with other musicians across Auckland.
Apart from pure enjoyment, Rhys is seeing the difference learning an instrument is having on students: “It has clear that students who are succeeding in music are succeeding in other areas of the school”.
Asked about the success of this year in particular, Rhys believes a lot of it is down to building a supportive culture across the school: “Our juniors look up and see a culture of music they can be part of; they see a pathway”. Mentoring between junior and senior students is also key: “We have senior students playing alongside junior students in the Junior Concert Band”.
This year, Dilworth will perform at the KBB Music Festival at Auckland’s beautiful Holy Trinity Cathedral. Most of the school’s performances are scheduled in the evenings so that friends and whānau can attend.
Our music team would love to have as many people as possible out supporting our musicians. The schedule for KBB is below
Good luck to all of our musicians! We are very proud of you all.