Showquest is go!

Secondary school students around the country can start planning their entries for Showquest, launched today as a Ministry of Education backed music, dance and drama event that will run in 10 regions from Dunedin toWhangarei, starting in June.

Rockquest Promotions, which has 30 years of success with the country’s only live, nationwide school music contest, has worked fast to book venues after winning the contract for an event to replace Stage Challenge just two weeks ago.

Event director Matt Ealand said Showquest was an opportunity for students to express themselves by drawing on their personal experiences and cultural heritage.

“They design and direct their own performances and, if they want to, can write and perform their own soundtracks too,” he said.

“The timing this yearmeans we’re coming at schools late, howeverwewill do everything we can to make it easy for them to give their students the opportunity to enter.”

Mr Ealand said Showquest had awider focus than Smokefreerockquest andwas accessible tomore students.

“Without excelling on a music instrument or as a vocalist they can develop their creativity, express themselves and have fun, and gain a strong sense of achievement as a team,” he says.

“Showquest is structured on a competitive framework, but the driving rationale, as with Smokefreerockquest, is to encourage participation, creative growth and teamwork.”

Mr Ealand said feedback after theMinistry of Education announcement showed schools were thrilled to have a dance and music performance event back on the school calendar. “Showquest lines up with the curriculum and with NCEA standards across several subject areas, “he said.

“It inspires kids to put what they’ve learnt into practice in a professional stage setting, with a live audience.”

Matt Ealand heads the team that will run Showquest from the Rockquest promotions Auckland office. The first event is at Whangarei’s Forum North on June 20 and other eventswill follow in Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua, Hamilton, New Plymouth and Auckland. A national online final will name the top entry nationwide in September.

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The driving rationale is to encourage participation, creative growth and team work.’

Entries close on June 20, enter via the website: www.showquest.nz or by contacting Matt Ealand, Showquest event director on 09 845 1557 or matt@showquest.nz