Rockshop Bandquest 2016 national final results

Rockshop Bandquest 2016 national final results - Nelson band third

A group of ten year 7 and 8 students from Whanganui Intermediate have just won $3000 worth of gear for their school music department as winners of the nationwide intermediate and primary music contest Rockshop Bandquest. They make up the RnB reggae band ‘2k16’; and as well as the Rockshop vouchers, will also have their winning song professionally recorded.

Their music teacher Ros Armstrong said the win would make a real difference: “We might get a mini mixing desk – we actually had to borrow the gear to record their online entry.”

2k16 drummer Jono Stolk said it had been really good experience: “It was a great opportunity – making music with all these great musicians and doing the things that I love.”

Vocalist Keisha Maniapoto said working with all the talent had been amazing: “We sang a reggae version of ‘Hello’ by Adele, and ‘Hair’ by Little Mix, and had a lot of help from our mentor Jordan Maraku (whose daughter is in the band)”.

The other members of Yk16 are Paiki Johnson-Rio, A J Malili-Malo-Lauano, Mia Maraku, Tomas Bidgood, Theo Almazan, Te Awa Te Huna, Porourangi Manuel, Sophia 'Unga-Cribb.

The judges for this year’s event were Auckland singer-songwriter Jamie McDell and Will McGillvray from Christchurch band Nomad.

Jamie McDell described 2k16 as ‘true rockstars: "I really loved the fact that 2K16 put a lot of effort into making these songs their own. They were clearly comfortable on stage, they sounded great together and they were enjoying themselves. “

Will McGillvray says it's amazing to have so many young kids who are this enthusiastic about making music: “The competition aspect of Bandquest is driving all of them to improve - there are now hundreds of awesome 9-12 year old bands around the country performing at a high level. The future is exciting.”

Second place went to Mercy from Cambridge Middle School, who won $1000 for their school music department; while D.N.A. from Nelson Intermediate took third place with a prize of $500 for their school music department; and their keyboardist Will Roddick won the Best Keyboardist Award.

Now in its sixth year, Rockshop Bandquest is for bands of two or more members, from intermediate or primary schools, who play a short set of covers or original songs. There were 12 live events this year and an online contest for bands from outlying regions.

Sponsor Hamish Jackon says Rockshop loves Bandquest because it gets people involved in making music.

“Making music has huge benefits to the player, the people they make music with and their school environment,” he said. “The power of music isn’t just the act of singing a song, telling a story or creating an atmosphere - it builds relationships and brings people together, it’s an important act of community that needs to be valued and encouraged…all of this and it’s actually fun.

The full list of awards in the 2016 national finals of Rockshop Bandquest is:

1st Place: 2k16, Whanganui Intermediate

2nd Place: Mercy, Cambridge Middle School

3rd Place: D.N.A., Nelson Intermediate

Best Original Song Award: Broken Jandal, Chisnallwood Intermediate, Chch

Best Keyboardist Award: Will Roddick, from D.N.A, Nelson Intermediate

Rocking Drummer Award: Jai Tudor-Oakley, from Broken Jandal, Chisnallwood Intermediate, Christchurch

Rock-Solid Bassist Award: Jake Walker, from Sapex, Christchurch South Intermediate

“Killer” Guitarist Award: Kevin Lee and Darcy Bassett from Revs, Tauranga Intermediate

Rockstar Styles Award: Jaime Ham, Lead Vocalist from Delirium Eclipse, Albany Junior High School

Musicianship Award: Avenue, from Napier Intermediate

Male Vocalist Award: Enzo Hood, from The Damp Tea Towels, John McGlashan College, Dunedin

Female Vocalist Award: Jessica Lawrence and Evie Dore, the backing vocalists, Shockwavz, Hutt Intermediate

Ends

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