E arly one morning, I arrived to find the Music School already awake. A trumpet player was warming up in one room. Next door, a young piper worked patiently with Liz Drury on a chanter. Shelley Spang accompanied vocal warm-ups down the corridor, while from Nolan Hungerford’s studio came the unmistakable sound of contemporary music in full flight. Every room was occupied. Every space was alive. It was the sound of boys learning through music – curious, committed, and finding their voice. It hasn’t always felt like this. Not long ago, the Music School was working hard against its own limitations. Equipment and spaces that were stretched beyond capacity struggled to keep pace with the growing number of boys choosing Music as a significant part of their lives at Christ’s College. As participation and ambition increased, it became clear that the department needed to evolve alongside the students. That journey began with a simple question: What kind of Music School do our boys deserve? Since then, we’ve invested in soundproofing, new practice spaces, modern equipment, and systems that better support learning. These changes are more than physical improvements. They’ve created an environment where boys want to spend time, where creativity flourishes, and where music is again at the heart of the building. Today, the department is moving with intention – a momentum woven through the four pillars of our programme. Choral Music, under the expert direction of Peter de Blois, remains the musical heartbeat of the school. From the Year 9 voice testing to The Big Sing, and Chapel Choir to combined concerts, choral singing teaches discipline, breath, teamwork, and the courage to be heard. It anchors the department in tradition and connects us to our Anglican faith. Orchestra and Chamber Music continue to grow in depth and ambition. Our collaborations with St Margaret’s College and Rangi Ruru Girls’ School have allowed our musicians to
perform repertoire beyond our usual scale, and our chamber groups are stepping confidently into competitions and public performances. This year’s Orchestral Extravaganza brought together 113 musicians on stage, and we were thrilled to have four chamber groups – including a Cello Octet – represent Christ’s College at the 2026 CMNZ Chamber Contest. Contemporary Music and DJ, led by Nolan, is a whirlwind of energy and identity. Rockquest success, new equipment, and a steady stream of boys writing, producing, and performing their own music have made this one of the most vibrant corners of the school. It’s loud, it’s joyful, and it’s where many boys discover that music can be theirs. Jazz, currently directed by Nolan continues to teach boys the art of listening and playing. Improvisation builds confidence in a way few other disciplines can. The Big Band and Jazz Combo have become tight, expressive ensembles, and their performances are a testament to the hours of quiet graft behind the scenes. We are excited to welcome a new Junior Jazz Ensemble to the roster, creating another pathway for our younger musicians to develop their skills. Our classroom programme is evolving alongside these co-curricular opportunities. A major focus is expanding and diversifying our music and performing arts technology capacity at all levels. This will allow us to cater for boys with no musical background who would like to compose, perform, and feed into our co- curricular programme. Today’s musicians move comfortably between a Bach chorale, a jazz standard, a rock riff, and a beat they’ve built on a laptop. Our role is to build a Music School that can flex and accommodate all this diverse music making, keeping the enduring strengths of orchestral, choral, and jazz traditions while giving boys the tools to explore contemporary music making. We’re not finished, but the Music School is humming again – purposeful, busy, and full of boys finding their place in the noise.
COLLEGE 2026
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