Step 3: Ensembles

Our brass ensemble is open to all students to join after one year of brass instrument tuition.

Brass ensembles are known for their powerful and resonant sound. The OSMC brass ensemble explores a diverse repertoire, ranging from classical works to contemporary pieces and arrangements of popular music. This exposure broadens students' musical horizons and helps them appreciate the versatility of brass instruments across different genres.

Joining the OSMC brass ensemble can be particularly beneficial for brass students as it offers them specialised training, opportunities for collaboration and responsibility, exposure to diverse repertoire, builds confidence and stage presence, and a supportive social environment that fosters a sense of community among members.

Playing in the brass band supports students to develop the advanced skills required to audition for national representative groups such as the National Secondary Schools’ Brass Band and the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra.

Our concert band is open to all students to join after one year of woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument tuition.

Concert bands are known for their versatility and ability to create a rich and dynamic sound. The OSMC concert band plays a wide variety of repertoire and takes part in an annual tour of local primary schools.

Joining the concert band is highly beneficial for students as it enhances their overall musicianship skills, fosters teamwork and discipline, provides valuable performance experiences, exposes them to diverse musical styles/genres, offers leadership opportunities, and provides them with a supportive community where they can form lasting friendships.

Playing in the concert band supports students to develop the advanced skills required to audition for national representative groups such as the New Zealand Youth Symphonic Winds and the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Symphony Orchestra.

Our recorder ensemble (consort) is a fantastic group to join as it provides students with the opportunity to play a range of different-sized recorders and extend their technical and ensemble skills.

Recorder consorts are known for their sweet and melodious sound, and they often perform a wide range of repertoire, spanning from early music to contemporary compositions.

Joining our OSMC recorder consort is advantageous for students as it allows them to specialise in and deepen their skills on the recorder, foster a strong sense of ensemble playing, broaden their musical knowledge and appreciation, develop a keen ear for balance and harmony, build confidence, stage presence, and form a supportive playing environment with their fellow recorder players.

The recorder originated in Europe in the 14th century. Renaissance recorders were designed to be played in groups, known as consorts, of different-sized recorders that blended well together. Today, the four most commonly played recorders are soprano, alto, tenor, and bass which correspond to the four principal voice parts.

Our junior choir for ages 5—7 provides a platform for students to come together and explore the joy of singing in a group setting. This class can be taken as a stand-alone class without any prior musical experience or while learning an instrument. Sessions are fun, interactive, and designed to develop a love for music, confidence in singing, and become familiar with the basics of musical literacy, including understanding pitch, rhythm, and dynamics.

This early vocal development lays a foundation for healthy vocal habits and musicality. Throughout the year, students are given opportunities to participate in outreach singing events in the community to further develop their confidence and ensemble skills.

Participating in the OSMC junior choir can lead to joining the senior choir and supports students with developing the skills and confidence to audition for school choirs, musical theatre productions, and to join an OSMC musicianship class to learn an instrument.

Our senior choir for ages 8 and above provides a platform for students to come together and explore the joy of singing in a group setting. This class can be taken as a stand-alone class without any prior musical experience or while learning an instrument. Sessions are engaging with a practical focus and provide a supportive environment for students to express themselves through music and experience the joy of singing.

The tutor guides students in developing their breath control, tone production, and expressive singing, contributing to ongoing vocal growth. Students learn a diverse repertoire that spans various genres, styles, and historical periods.

Throughout the year, students are given opportunities to participate in outreach singing events in the community to further develop their confidence and ensemble skills. The OSMC senior choir fosters a strong sense of community and lays the foundation for a lifelong love of music.

Participating in the OSMC senior choir can lead to developing the skills and confidence to audition for musical theatre productions and representative ensembles such as the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Choir, and enrol in the OSMC musicianship programme to learn an instrument.

Starting in 2025, the OSMC string ensemble will be held after school on Friday afternoons. This exciting new ensemble is open to students who have been learning the violin, viola, cello, or double bass for two years or more.  

Joining the string ensemble provides students with an excellent opportunity to develop their technical and musicianship skills alongside expanding their repertoire knowledge and building their confidence in performing. 

Participating in the OSMC string ensemble can lead to developing the skills and confidence to perform in smaller groups for the national Chamber Music Contest and audition for representative ensembles such as the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Orchestra.