Intermediate band’s style earns award
Matamata Intermediate’s year eight band Contradiction has style.
The band competed at the Waikato regional final of Rockshop Bandquest at the Clarence Theatre in Hamilton, winning the Rockstar Styles Award.
Contradiction is made of year eight students Stephen Turner (bass), Ryan Frearson (drums), Jayden Hunter-Martin (guitar), Jerom DeWilde (keyboard) and Kylie Trow (vocals). The band decided to wear animal onesies, and were glad they did, as it set them apart from other bands.
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.
Over 400 people attended the event, and Jayden says this was the band’s first public performance to such a large crowd.
‘‘We were really nervous,’’ he says, ‘‘but glad we won something.’’
The majority of Contradiction band members will head to Matamata College next year and at this stage they are hoping they will continue to perform together.
‘‘The longer we stay together, the better chemistry we will have,’’ says Jayden.
Now in its sixth year, Rockshop Bandquest founder and director Glenn Common says he’s noticing an increase in the level of sophistication and performance skills of kids at intermediate age.
Cambridge Middle School band Mercy took out the night, winning credit with The Rockshop to the value $400 for their school, with Fairfield Intermediate taking second place and Berkley Intermediate coming in third.
Rockshop spokesman, Hamish Jackson, says the prizes make a real difference to a school music department. ‘‘It’s no secret that some schools are struggling to provide even the basics, let alone extras for subjects like music,’’ he said.
‘‘The prizes we provide go straight to the music department and help to build on the momentum of having their students performing in Bandquest. We love to see the continued increase in kids making music, because the outcomes are so positive for everyone involved, including the school and community.’’