Music is integrated into the heart of Rangi Ruru’s community, well beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. Being an essential part of the human experience, our programme emphasises the development of the whole student through an integrated approach to wellbeing, through music. Ākonga feature in every facet of school life as soloists and in small and large ensembles – at assemblies, chapel services, student-initiated events, and Rangi Ruru alumnae and wider whānau occasions.
Ka whangaia, ka tupu, ka puawai. That which is nurtured blossoms and grows.
Performance Opportunities
Our ākonga participate in local and national school-based festivals and events and are frequently invited to feature in a wide range of community events and functions. Through this real-life approach, our musicians gain the skills and dispositions to contribute positively through music to communities they may become involved in beyond school. Student-led performances are supported through the Arts Council and as part of our curriculum programmes. Through our diverse and inclusive programmes, ākonga develop highly desirable skills in areas such as leadership, self-management, creativity, analysis, performance, collaboration, problem-solving, communication, curiosity, risk-taking and an ability to think outside the square. Most importantly they learn about empathy – how to ‘walk in another’s shoes’ – through performing, creating, analysing and listening to music
Academic Accolades
Research and studies demonstrate that students who are involved in extensive musical programmes often excel academically, and we see this in our community. Rangi Ruru is consistently one of the top-performing schools in music in New Zealand. A high percentage of our top academic award winners, including Dux, Proxime Accessit and Senior Leadership awards and positions, are musicians. These ākonga go on to forge academic career pathways, including music, through top national and international institutions, often becoming leaders in their fields.
As a school, Rangi Ruru strongly supports NCEA as a robust and highly regarded academic qualification, with students consistently achieving at the highest levels they are capable of. In music, our students have achieved a very high music scholarship success rate in the last ten years, including several Top, Outstanding and Music Scholar Awards.
Music has been a central part of my creative journey, starting back at Rangi Ruru, where it played a key role in my education. The teachers didn’t just push us to reach excellence—they believed we could. Being involved in music was a form of expression that we needed so badly at that age, and it made us part of a community—the shared experience of creating so much beauty together—made a big impact, forming bonds that still hold strong today.
After Rangi Ruru, I knew without a doubt that I had to nurture the artistic spark that had been lit inside of me. As I look to the future, I remain endlessly grateful for the foundation Rangi Ruru’s musical programme provided and excited to keep building on it, one story, one note, and one frame at a time.
Music Curriculum
Music is offered as a subject to all, with increased specialisation and personalisation as students progress through NCEA Levels 1 to 3 and Scholarship.
Students are exposed to a diverse range of musical styles and genres through performance and creation of original music. These areas are always supported by the exploration of musical context, analysis and music literacy. Skills in live recording and mixing are developed using a range of current music technologies.
There is an emphasis on the development of the whole student through our integrated approach to wellbeing, including the development of mental skills to become the ‘best version of themselves’ through music, along with opportunities to develop leadership skills in all aspects of the teaching and learning programme.
Co-Curricular Music
We offer a highly regarded music co-curricular programme, including:
- Choral
- Orchestra
- Jazz
- Chamber Music
- Rock
- Percussion
- Musical Theatre
Instrumental and vocal tuition is available to all ākonga, and performance artists, teachers and composers are engaged to work with students across all genres. All groups consist of students across year levels who learn from and support each other. The students give freely of their time, to work beyond the school day, to further develop and deepen musical skills and understandings.
Many of our ensembles are regional and national award winners in a diverse range of secondary school music events, and our students are in demand as performers in Christchurch.
- Resolutions, our senior choir, is frequently a national finalist at the BIG SING National Finals
- Rangi Ruru’s Chamber musicians have consistently been national finalists, winning top awards in the NZCT Chamber Music Contest including first prize in 2024
- Our Jazz Band is a gold and silver award winner at several jazz festivals, including overall winner at the Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival in 2023
- Composers and songwriters have gained national recognition for their work, including placings in the Play it Strange songwriting competition and the NZ Choral Federation composition competition
Our talented musicians are selected to be members of regional and national groups, including the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Choir, National Youth Jazz Band and National Youth Symphonic Winds. Many are fully involved in a range of music and performing arts groups in the wider Christchurch area, including professional work with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Stellar Music Scholarships
Our music programmes provide personalised enrichment and extension in a caring and inclusive environment for music scholars and other high-achieving musicians.
Stellar Music Scholarships are available for students in Years 7 and 9. Scholars receive discounted tuition fees, a generous grant towards instrumental/vocal lessons and access to mental performance coaching.
Rangi Ruru’s high-achieving musicians are empowered to challenge themselves and find their voice through music. Mentoring is available from leading creative and forward-thinking professional musicians who inspire students to extend their musical horizons at school and beyond. Students are also actively encouraged to become involved in the wider academic, sporting, cultural and service programmes available at Rangi Ruru.
Be Your Best
Watch the video below to see Rangi Ruru students Elise and Kaiyah, and alumna Kendal Flutey, share what being their best means to them.
