Napier Boys’ High School’s budding musicians are using every possible moment to hone their talents and follow their passion for music.
The practice rooms have gone back to being filled with music before, during, and after school.
“As soon as the bell goes, there is a stampede to the practice room,” Head of Music Bojan Madzunarov said.
Their dedication and determination to succeed has resulted in another successful year despite disruptions caused by Covid-19.
Mr Madzunarov said that although a number of annual competitions were cancelled, his students had made the most of the few remaining events which were pushed to Term Three.
While he acknowledged it had been “a bit gutting” for the boys to have some competitions taken away from them, it was important to “make the most of the opportunities available”.
“We tried to get out there and give them an opportunity to perform because it makes a difference in the long run and you always feel better after you’ve done it.”
Last term, NBHS bands Clouded Lens and Astropope placed second and third respectively in the Rockquest regional finals.
While both the School Band and Funk Band gained Silver Awards at the Festival of the Bands and seven students gained individual golds.
Notably, Jackson Stone was recognised as top performer.
The week before, two students also received highly commended at the Chamber Music district finals.
These accolades are not dissimilar to what they have received in the past. Mr Madzunarov said, “year to year” they get “pretty solid results across the board”.
He credits their success to a “dedicated group of boys”.
“They’ve obviously got an incredible amount of talent, so it is very easy to work with them and whenever they are presented with a challenge, they really stand up and rise to the occasion.”
About 120 students in five classes across all year levels take music as a subject.
A “smaller but very dedicated” group of boys participate in music at an extra-curricular level with multiple bands and groups on offer including the school band, choir, and the funk band.
“They cross over into other styles because the ones that are really passionate about music are involved in as many kinds of outlets they can get themselves into.”
Mr Madzunarov, a classical guitarist by training, worked in Auckland prior to becoming the head of music at NBHS five years ago.
As he is the only music teacher, he has the unique ability to be able to follow each student’s progress from when they start with his subject right to the end of their schooling career.
There are also a number of “excellent” itinerant teachers who come in weekly. “They are a great help and it definitely helps to have great staff around the boys.”
On an annual basis, Mr Madzunarov says a couple of students pursue music as a career.
“That’s ultimately what you want. You want them to have that lifelong passion towards the subject and that’s where it is worthwhile eventually seeing them do well out there as well.”
While “any career is going to be challenging”, he believes “you can make it out there in any walk of life” if you “invest yourself and have a clear idea in terms of what you want”.
