The dedication students have shown in all areas of the creative & performing arts throughout 2025 has resulted in unprecedented successes at both regional and national level. These acknowledgements and awards represent achievements beyond the academic curriculum.
Our programs have seen record numbers of students involved across music, dance and drama, top-level national awards and outstanding in-house productions drawing audiences in their thousands over the year.
Hip Hop – Dio Mega Crew
- 1st place at HHI nationals
- 2nd place at Project 2025 nationals
- Best Choreography award at the ‘FOMAC’ competition in Central Auckland
- 1st place at ‘FOMAC’ competition in the Mega Schools division
Instrumental Achievements
KBB Festival
Four large instrumental ensembles represented at this prestigious instrumental ‘fest of the best’- we were especially proud of our newly formed Dio Concert Band who achieved their highest Silver Award ever.
All three of our large ensembles earned high scores from the adjudicators – each just one-mark shy of GOLD.
Dio Symphony Orchestra
- Jenny Seo
- Jennifer Ni
Dio Chamber Orchestra
- Madeleine Christiansen
- Jessica Lu
Concert Band
- Sophie Edmonds
- Wendy Chen
NZCT Chamber Music National Finals
12 top Dio instrumentalists across eight different groups participated in the chamber music competition at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre. Dio won some outstanding awards:
- Newcomers award – EMY Trio
- Junior award and Auckland finalists – VEZA Quartet
- Adjudicators award – LCI Trio
- Auckland overall winner and National final winners – Nino Rota Trio
Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ – Regionals and Nationals
- Shakespeare essay competition – 1st prize: Hayley Liu
- Video title card – 1st prize: Hayley Liu for A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Costume design – Highly Commended: Hayley Liu
- Runner-up for the Best 15-Minute Scene: Joia Jackson and Isobella Baggaley for their exceptional portrayal of Emilia and Desdemona in “Othello’
Choral Achievements
NZCF Big Sing competition
At the Regionals and Finals of the NZCF Big Sing Competition:
- St Cecilia Singers were awarded Distinction and Best Female Choir, and at the Finale they were awarded GOLD and the Hutt Valley Trophy
- Bella Cantoris were awarded Highly Commended at Regionals
Arts Council Award Star Award for 2025 – Eloise Cain and Wing Sze Chow
Bayleys Staff Award for the Arts – Ms Anna Gygraaf
Presentation of Cups
Cups are presented to students with an exemplary level of commitment, ability and participation.
- Mannion Speech and Drama Cup - Isobella Baggaley and Joia Jackson
- Diocesan Dance Cup for excellence in Choreography and Performance – Mia Kara and Dani Gardiner-Kent
- Diocesan Instrumental Cup for long-term loyalty and leadership – Sophie Edmonds and Jenny Seo
- Auctioneering Cup – Lara Woods and Gabriella Mitchell
- Penny Macdonald Award for Excellence in Debating – Violet Tucker and Isobella Baggaley
- Kapa Haka Koru Award – Emma Young and Anna Preece
- Jean Gallagher Cup for Commitment to Instrumental Music – Madeleine Christiansen and Jennifer Ni
- Terri Crouch Cup for the Most Promising Vocalists – Joia Jackson and Lotosina Tavui
- McCabe Cup for Excellence in Contemporary Music – Joia Jackson
- Hazel Kinder Cup for the Most Committed Choristers – Madeleine Christiansen
- Sandy O’Brien Cup for Excellence in Drama – Ella Bosselmann
- Imogen Wells Award for showing all-round Excellence in the Arts – Jaimie Park and Isobella Baggaley
- Averill Award for Services to the Performing Arts – Libby Nichols and Ella Bosselmann
- The David Gordon Cup for Excellence and Commitment – Joia Jackson
- The Rosey Eady Cup for a ‘special individual who will make a difference’ – Lotosina Tavui
Congratulations to all our award winners and to each and every girl who has contributed to making 2025 such a fantastic year.
