We were pleased to host the 2026 Performing Arts Awards on Thursday 16 October, with an evening dedicated to celebrating the success of our students in music, dance, drama, musical theatre, kapa haka, public speaking and debating across our Marsden Performing Arts community.
The evening opened with a warm welcome from Deputy Head of Performing Arts, Lilja Leppänen, followed by a powerful kapa haka performance that set the tone for a night showcasing the breadth of talent, creativity and collaboration across the school.
Marsden's Kapa Haka Group
Head of Performing Arts Jessica Caldwell and Deputy Head of Performing Arts Lilja Leppänen, each spoke on the impact that Performing Arts has had on their lives, with Jessica mentioning that "the arts aren't just about stepping into the spotlight or landing the lead role," but rather "about being part of a community and creating something as a team," and Lilja highlighting that "the most important thing that the performing arts has taught me is to believe in myself."
From left to right: Deputy Head of Performing Arts Lilja Leppänen, Director of Performing Arts Sarah Wilson, and Head of Performing Arts Jessica Caldwell
The evening also featured exciting performances from our Hip Hop group, SMCs Next Gen, who finished third at the Dance NZ Made regional competition before attending Nationals in late September, as well as a performance from Abigail Hyde who won the Best Senior Performance Award in the Betty Swainson Memorial Music Competition earlier this year.
In a fitting tribute to their partnership, Jessica and Lilja joined together to perform a touching duet of “For Good” from the musical Wicked, reflecting on all they have achieved together this year.
Director of Performing Arts Sarah Wilson reflected on the history of Performing Arts at Marsden to mark our 100th anniversary in Karori. She highlighted our origins, from the early days of the original Founders’ Hall, right through to the present day. Her reflection celebrated the evolution and rich variety across all our choirs, carol services, productions, orchestras, debates, groups, and teams over the past century. While the school provides the facilities, Sarah noted that "it is the people choosing to take up those opportunities who really make a performing arts programme." She also acknowledged the dedicated network behind the school’s success, specifically thanking colleagues, parents, coaches, and students for their ongoing support.
The night saw several outstanding achievements recognised with prestigious awards. Huge congratulations to the following students:
- Samah Lanka & Harriet Small – The Junior Cultural Cup 2026
- Madeleine Forbes – The Year 11 Speech Cup 2026
- Isabel Harvey-Green – The Thurlby Cup 2026
- Bay Johnson – The Orr-McFaull Cup for Excellence in Debating 2026
- Kate Urry – The Harcourt McKenzie Cup for the Pursuit of a Career in the Stage or Screen Arts 2026
- Lilja Leppänen – The Old Girls’ Cup for Cultural Involvement 2026
- Jessica Caldwell & Abigail Hyde – The Sophie Evans Cup for Performing Arts 2026
Cup Winners with Marsden's Director of Performing Arts Sarah Wilson
We also congratulate the following students who were awarded Honours Bars for 2026 in recognition of their exceptional achievements at a national level:
- Georgia May – for representing New Zealand in Irish Dancing
- Isla Nottage – for representing New Zealand in Highland Dancing
- Lotta Leonhardt – for representing New Zealand in Hip Hop
- Leah Zhai – for representing New Zealand in Chinese Instrument
- Abigail Hyde – for her selection into the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir
- Akshara Ravi – for her selection into the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir
From left to right: Honours Bars recipients Akshara Ravi, Leah Zhai, Georgia May, Carlotta Leonhardt, Isla Nottage and Abigail Hyde
The evening concluded with a captivating performance from Marsden’s senior auditioned choir, Altissime. Led by Mr Shawn Condon, they showcased the exceptional range of talent and musicality within the school. This capped off a triumphant season for the ensemble, following their success at August's Big Sing Cadenza in Whanganui, where they earned the top Tūī award alongside the prize for Best Performance of the set piece, Scarborough Fair.
Congratulations once again to all our award winners and nominees on their remarkable achievements this year.
See the full list of award winners here.