Cromwell College (CC) and Dunstan High School (DHS) bands rocked out with 20 other entrants at the Central Otago Smokefree Rockquest regional finals in Queenstown last Saturday, June 22.

CC senior band Mistep placed third overall and The Bad Haircuts got the crowd chanting along with them ‘get a haircut’.

CC principal Mason Stretch said he was impressed with the confidence, stage presence and energy of the nine students in the two bands.

CC music teacher Cath Forsyth said she loved seeing the student bands mature, work on their craft and become better musicians through the course of competitions like rockquest and during their high school years.

In more music news, CC year nine student Mischa Thomlinson recently won the ‘Play it Strange’ national songwriting competition for Year 9 to 11.

She will record her song ‘Pixie Dust’ in a professional studio, which will be included on an album.

Mischa Thomlinson. PHOTO: Supplied  

Cath said Mischa was an exceptional talent with a bright future ahead of her, including a trip to sing in America later this year. 

Mistep have been playing together for a few years, and last year lead singer Grace Tiko won best vocalist in rockquest. They played two originals ‘Bittersweet’ and ‘Paranoia’ in this year's regional final. 

Grace Tiko on the mic for Mistep. PHOTO: Supplied 

Check out Mistep's rockquest performance.  

Cath said Mistep were working hard towards a performance at local event Light Up Cromwell on August 4. 

“Words used to describe their rockquest performance were really tight’, great musicality and showmanship. They were very comfortable up on stage. They’re keen to do it next year [too].”

Cath thanked band mentor Louis Koopman and parents for supporting students with transport and lessons. 

CC second band The Bad Haircuts formed this year and band members are in Year 11, although some of them have played music together in different formations before now.

CC year 11 band The Bad Haircuts. PHOTO: Supplied 

“The band used this experience for NCEA credits for composition . . . they wrote two songs themselves and have had the opportunity to practice in class time,” Cath said.  

The Bad Haircuts are Ollie Dicey, James White, Indiana Cameron and Connor Haig and ‘Misstep’ alongside singer Grace, includes Cam Anderson, Sullivan Sonntag, Laura Bates and Louis Maugham. 

Dunstan High School’s band The Stolen Rings had two weeks of rehearsals before they took to the stage at the Queenstown Events Centre. 

The Stolen Rings (from left) are Max Hollebon, Josh Ballantine, Angus Hanning and Jimmy Naylor. PHOTO: Supplied 

Check out The Stolen Rings performance here.

DHS music teacher Dan Beck said anyone keen to get involved should talk to him.

“I guarantee there will be heaps of like-minded students that would be keen to work towards an event like this, or even just starting a band to jam and have fun. Sometimes it’s a matter of finding these people.”

The top two regional final winning bands, join the region's top two solo-duos and enter a video submission for the national top 30 selection. They then have a chance to perform at the national final.

Rockquest began in 1990 and was in five locations around New Zealand initially - Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Rotorua and Wellington. 

The concept has expanded to include Bandquest in 2011 for primary and intermediate age students, and Showquest in 2018 featuring performing arts and wearable arts for Year 1 to 13.