Skip to Main Content

Arts & Cultural Activities

At Scots College our goal is to develop all-round character in our students, and as part of this we offer a rich arts and cultural programme that includes music, drama and various other cultural opportunities.

Our Creative & Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) is a state-of-the-art creative teaching, rehearsal and performance facility. It houses a fully equipped theatre, computer pods for animation, art spaces, a recording studio and several acoustically designed music practice rooms, a designated rehearsal studio and facilities for film and animation production.

The arts and cultural experiences we provide our students with not only develop artistic proficiency, but also foster skills such as self-confidence, communication, teamwork, and resilience. 

Whether it's participating in a school choir or band, debating joining in a drama production, or learning an instrument, all our students have opportunities to develop a range of skills, perform on stage, and collaborate with fellow artists.

Itinerant Music Lessons

Scots College offers a variety of itinerant music lessons. To learn more about what we offer or to book lessons, click here.

Bands & Ensembles

We encourage all musicians to be an active member of at least one music group. It teaches musical discipline and encourages friendships alongside preparing for many high-profile events.

Contact Ivan Patterson if you are unclear which group is appropriate for you or if you want to organise rehearsals for your own group.

Kotahitanga Choir
Kotahitanga Tutti Choir
Kairangi Chorale
Strathmore Singers
Jazz Band
Scots College Orchestra
Scots Strings
Scots Rock
Twisted Notes

Kotahitanga Choir

This is for those who want to sing in two or more parts and extend themselves as a vocalist. The Kotahitanga Choir participate in a wide range of concerts and events including Scots Got Talent, Scots Spectacular, Kids Sing, and Firecrackers. This is a full year commitment.

Students who join Kotahitanga Choir will be expected to attend both a Wednesday and Friday rehearsals with Kotahitanga Tutti.

Key Information:

Years 7-8
Wednesdays/Fridays 8am-8:40am.
Director: Joanna Calvert - calvertj@scotscollege.school.nz

Kotahitanga Tutti Choir

This is an energetic all-comers group that combines fine singing with movement. The Kotahitanga Choir participate in a wide range of concerts and events including Scots Got Talent, Scots Spectacular, Kids Sing, and Firecrackers. This is a full year commitment.

Key Information:

Years 7-8
Fridays 8am-8:40am.
Director: Joanna Calvert - calvertj@scotscollege.school.nz

Kairangi Chorale

The Kairangi Chorale is a group for singers wanting to develop higher-level vocal skills in an environment where they tackle challenging music and performance situations. It is a full year commitment.

Key Information:

Open to ambitious and committed students - Years 11-13.
Mondays 3:40pm-5pm
Director: Ivan Patterson - pattersoni@scotscollege.school.nz

Strathmore Singers

We tackle a wide range of music that is designed to develop voices to their potential in an enjoyable and supportive environment. It is a full-year commitment that gives many performance opportunities.

Key Information

Years 9-13
Tuesdays/Thursdays 8am-8:40am
Director: Ivan Patterson - pattersoni@scotscollege.school.nz

Jazz Band

A very busy and high-energy group that tackles a wide range of music from funk to jazz. The highlight of most years is attending the National Youth Jazz Competition in Tauranga, as well as performing in a range of local concerts.

Key Information

Years 9-13
Tuesday 3:40pm-5pm
Director: Mike Ashton - ashtonm@scotscollege.school.nz
Manager: Ivan Patterson - pattersoni@scotscollege.school.nz

Scots College Orchestra

The Scots College Orchestra is the music ensemble for confident instrumentalists who want to develop their skills through playing a wide range of music from film themes to classical. They regularly perform at major events, including the annual Artsplash in the Michael Fowler Centre.

Key Information

Open to instrumentalists in Years 7-13 with at least three years of playing experience.
Wednesdays 3:40pm-4:50pm (Followed by Scots Strings rehearsal).

Directors:
Ivan Patterson (Orchestra) - pattersoni@scotscollege.school.nz
Joanna Calvert (Strings) - calvertj@scotscollege.school.nz

Scots Strings

The music ensemble for confident instrumentalists who want to develop their skills through playing a wide range of music - from film themes to classical.

Key Information

Open to musicians in the Scots Orchestra
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:15pm (after Orchestra)
Director: Joanna Calvert - calvertj@scotscollege.school.nz

Scots Rock

The Scots Rock programme is an opportunity for students to learn the process of performing and creating rock songs in a band setting.

Key Information

Years 7-13
Friday 3:40pm-5pm

Director: Marius Nel nelmm@scotscollege.school.nz

Twisted Notes

Twisted Notes is the ensemble for developing players that aims to twist together the music of an orchestra and jazz band for an enjoyable mixture of styles.

Key Information

For instrumentalists to join after initial lessons to give experience of playing in a group. Mainly for musicians from Years 7-11.
Practices on Tuesday lunchtime.
Director: Mike Ashton - ashtonm@scotscollege.school.nz
Manager: Joanna Calvert - calvertj@scotscollege.school.nz

Chess

Chess Club

Chess Club

The chess club competes throughout the year, within the College at lunchtimes, at the Wellington Regional Championships, and at the NZSS Championships.

Key Information

Teams: Years 7-10, Years 11-13
Teacher in Charge: Mei Zhan - zhanme@scotscollege.school.nz

Debating

Years 7-8
Years 9-13

Years 7-8

At the Year 7-8 level, debating is an impromptu/limited preparation club with an emphasis on fun and gaining experience and confidence.

Key Information

Terms 1-3
All teams compete fortnightly at lunchtime
Teacher in Charge: Victoria Papadopoulos - papadopoulosv@scotscollege.school.nz

Years 9-13

All teams compete in the WSU (Wellington Speaking Union) regular competition Terms 1-3. Premier and some Senior Cert teams also compete at Regionals in Term 1. There are other competitions throughout the year that individual teams can enter.

Prem A compete against Lindisfarne College in the annual winter fixture in Term 2, and against the Scots Collegians in Term 3.

Premier and Senior Certificate teams are strictly limited in number, so in the event that more students sign up than there are places, there will need to be trials.

Junior Certificate is an open grade with no limits, and no need for experience. Anyone can sign up, as long as they can commit to the Wednesday debate and practice time. Juniors, please make sure you have no clashes with Wednesday sport before signing up.

Key Information

Terms 1-3
Prem A /B & Junior Prem: Tuesdays
Senior Cert: Thursdays
Junior Cert: Wednesdays
Teacher in Charge: Victoria Papadopoulos - papadopoulosv@scotscollege.school.nz

Drama

48h Film Festival
2 in 12 Film Competition
Junior School Production
Sheila Winn Shakespeare Competition
Showquest Performance
Showquest Toi Wearable Art
Speech & Drama

48h Film Festival

The Vista Foundation 48Hours is NZ's largest guerrilla filmmaking competition! There is nothing quite like it.

Over 500 teams of filmmakers have just 48 hours to write, shoot, and cut a film with a given genre and some random elements. Filmmakers compete for awards and the title of Grand National Champion, culminating in a grand finals event.

You can enter individually or as a team.  

Check out more here.

Years 11-13
Dates: 17-19 May 2024
Teacher in Charge: Rachel More - rachel.more@scotscollege.school.nz

2 in 12 Film Competition

Here, Middle School filmmakers have the chance to create a 2 minute film in 12 hours on site at the College. They will learn the basics of all aspects of filmmaking in a fun day filled with fast turn around creativity for the screen.

You can enter individually or as a team.  

This is an excellent warm up for the national 48 Hour Film Competition for the Seniors Students.

Preparation takes place over 1 week in Term 4 with an all day Sunday of filming.

Years 7-10

Teacher in Charge: Rachel More - rachel.more@scotscollege.school.nz

Junior School Production

Years 1-6
Production Dates: 15-17 May 2024
Teacher in Charge: Rosie Roland - rolandr@scotscollege.school.nz

Sheila Winn Shakespeare Competition

Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival is an annual event that involves more than half the secondary schools in the country. During the Regional Festival, students engage with Shakespeare's plays by performing 5-minute and 15-minute excerpts from them with schools in their area. Schools from each region are then selected to go on to participate in the National Festival.

The Festival scope is wide as students act, direct, serve as crew, compose music, write essays, and create costumes, posters, static images, and DVD covers for their performances.

To learn more about the competition, click here.

Term 1
Years 7-13
Teacher in Charge: Rachel More - rachel.more@scotscollege.school.nz

Showquest Performance

Showquest is an exciting performing arts platform for schools across Aotearoa to showcase Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Culture & Technology in professional theatres.

Click here to learn more.

Terms 1-2
Years 7-13
Show: 27-28 May 2024
Teacher in Charge: Paula Eastman - eastmanp@scotscollege.school.nz

Showquest Toi Wearable Art

Showquest Toi is run in collaboration with World of Wearable Art (WOW) and is an opportunity for the next generation of textile artists and designers to get a taste for the WOW experience. Toi is te reo Māori for art, and our Toi programme challenges students to take art off the wall and put it on the human form.

Click here to learn more about Showquest Toi.

Terms 1-2
Years 9-13
Show: 27-28 May 2024
Teacher in Charge: Katherine Bertram - katherine.bertram@scotscollege.school.nz

Speech & Drama

Robyn Radomski

Kia ora, my name is Robyn Radomski. I believe that communication, in all its forms is the most basic and essential life skill. A confident speaker can share their ideas, dreams, values, and goals, as well as instruct and impart their knowledge in all stages of life. My teaching mission is to assist students of all ages to be the best they can be in their clarity of articulation and speaking confidence. I tailor my lessons to meet the individual needs, interests and goals of the students.

I teach students at Scots College from Initial (7 years of age) up to Grade 7. I teach primarily from the Speech NZ Flexi Syllabus. I teach speech, drama, public speaking, impromptu speaking, and poetry. Most students take up the option of sitting exams. I teach individual classes, pairs, and groups of up to 4 students.

For more information and to register for 2024, please contact me on robyn@speakwell.co.nz or 027 2018766


Maggie Baker

Kia ora, my name is Maggie Baker. I believe Speech and Drama is a powerful way for children to learn the necessary building blocks for a life of effective communication. It empowers students and enables them to develop self-confidence, a creative imagination, empathy, and maturity in interpersonal skills. Activities are not only entertaining, but also have numerous benefits for personal development, e.g., self-expression, confidence building, and verbal and non verbal communication. Many of the Drama activities develop empathy and emotional intelligence, as individuals learn to understand and connect with others on a deeper level. As a school teacher with many years of experience at both Primary and Secondary levels, an important focus of my teaching is developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Speech and Drama activities often involve improvisation and creative problem-solving. Participants learn to think on their feet, adapt to different situations, and come up with innovative solutions, enhancing their critical thinking skills.

Public Speaking is offered for individuals, pairs, and small group sessions, which have added benefits of teamwork and collaboration. Participants learn to work together, listen to others' ideas, and contribute to discussions. This helps develop leadership skills, including decision-making, organisation, and effective communication with a team. I have found this to be of particular use to my Seniors, who are sitting their ATCL Diplomas this year in Communication Skills.

At Scots College, I offer lessons to students from Year 2 upwards. Exams are available both from Trinity College and Speech NZ. Additional syllabi include: Performance Arts, Acting, and Musical Theatre.

To enrol and for more information, please contact me via email: maggie.education@gmail.com or mobile: 0212576198.

Pasifika Alo Fa’atasi (PAF)

Pasifika Alo Fa'atasi (PAF)

Pasifika Alo Fa'atasi (PAF)

Open Membership: Inclusive and open to all students at Scots College. In partnership with Kāhui Raukura.

In Terms 1-3, the group will be dedicating their time to practices for the Wellington Secondary Schools TuTagata Polynesian Festival. This is held each year at the TSB Arena. All Wellington Central Secondary Schools are involved in this event, and Scots College is excited to be able to participate each year. Each year, the group will look at offering NCEA and UE Credits for Senior students who perform for the Festival.

Parents Fono is held every first Monday of the month. This will include Home School Partnership sessions to support our students at home with their families.

Each year we concentrate on celebrating 2 Languages during National Language weeks in Term 2 and 3.

Key Information

Years 7-13
PAF is a full-year commitment.
Practices are Sunday 4pm-6pm & Monday 4pm-6pm

Pipe Band

Pipe Band

Pipe Band

The Scots College Pipe Band has a history almost as long as Scots College itself. It was founded in 1925 under the direction of the then Headmaster, Mr J.H. Murdoch.

The band is a very active and integral part of the College. As well as functioning as a public relations feature of the College, it also provides students with an opportunity to learn a musical instrument, take part in a disciplined musical ensemble, and provides a much appreciated community service.

The band plays regularly at College and Community functions, as well as State and Civic parades. Members also compete as a band and as individuals, at the local and National level.

Key Information

Being a member of the Scots College Pipe Band is a major commitment year-round, for students and their parents, but most can cope with band membership and a sport and still maintain a good academic programme.

Teacher in Charge: Hazel Redpath - redpathh@scotscollege.school.nz

Te Kāhui Raukura

Te Kāhui Raukura

Te Kāhui Raukura

Inclusive and open to all Students at Scots College wanting to participate in Kaupapa Māori Initiatives. In Partnership with Pasifika Alo Fa’atasi.

Kāhui Raukura means "a collective group of Leaders paddling a Waka in unison." The dual meaning of Kāhui Raukura also acknowledges the three Raukura feathers of Te Atiawa tribe worn in the hair of the wāhine Toa and Rangatira. 

Kotahi te kohao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro ma, te miro pango, te miro whero - Through the eye of the needle pass the white thread, the black thread, and the red thread.

Key Information

Ngā Kaiako:
Kaiwhakahaere Māori:
Emerson Nikora - nikorae@scotscollege.school.nz
Pouako, Senior Management: Richard Kirk - kirkr@scotscollege.school.nz
Kāhui Kaimahi, Staff Support Team:
Te Ohu Māori o Kōtarani

Honours Recognition

At Scots College, we take pride in our students’ achievements, both in and out of school, and their accomplishments are acknowledged throughout the school year with a range of Awards. Our Honours Recognition celebrates those students who have achieved excellence in a competition or involvement beyond the College at a national level for secondary school competitions or above. Students with Honours Recognition are presented with an Honours Tie, certificate, and a framed photo on our Achievers Wall.

If you are a current student or parent of a current student who has achieved excellence in arts or cultural pursuits at a national or regional level, please click the button below to let us know.