The Averill Award for Service to the Performing Arts

Winners: Annabel Smith and Eloise Voss

Service underpins everything we do here at Dio. In the arts, we rely on individuals who not only participate, but who show commitment and perseverance, people who give generously of themselves, time and time again.

Throughout their time at Dio, Annabel and Eloise have consistently given their time, energy, and talent across multiple disciplines. Both are very accomplished contemporary and classical ballet dancers, they have sung in every Dio choir since they arrived at Dio, they have taken leads in many productions over the years, and both are Prefects this year. Together they were Dance Captains for Chicago and together they ran hours of rehearsal on their own and mentored the young dancers and singers.

Both girls are choir leaders; Eloise for Dio Cantoris and Annabel for St Cecilia Singers. They are not just performers, they are very willing helpers, mentors and leaders. Both have warm, giving personalities and they have led by example.

The Imogen Wells Award for Excellence in the Arts

Winners: Hannah Goldwater and Isabelle Brabant

This beautiful bronze sculpture, created by Imogen’s father, is awarded each year to a student or students who exemplify all-round excellence in the arts. This year we are proud to present the Imogen Wells Award to not one, but two students.

From the moment they stepped through the doors in Year 4, Hannah and Isabelle have been a constant and vibrant presence in the performing arts here at Dio. Their contributions are across drama productions, Shakespeare Festivals, dance shows, Hip Hop, choirs, singing competitions – and of course, leading roles in so many shows and plays over the years. Both have been recognised on the national and international stage.

What sets them apart is not only their talent, but their unwavering dedication. Their enthusiasm has been infectious, and their professionalism inspiring. They have led by example, lifting others with them and setting a very high standard.

These two live and breathe the arts, and over the years here, they have given generously to the performing arts community here at Dio. Thank you and we wish you all the best.

The Rosey Eady Cup for a ‘special individual who will make a difference’

Winner: Anya Taylor

Anya is a tour de force; it’s not very often we get such a such an intelligent, brave and super creative combination of talent, and across multiple disciplines.

Anya has achieved so much already; Drama scholarship twice, three times finalist in the Frontline Grand slam competition for spoken word and poetry, three times Soapbox winner, Shakespeare Festival National winner over three years. And this year she took home two prestigious prizes at the Nationals in Wellington.

Anya has had lead roles in so many Dio productions, from Junior High School Frozen to Chicago, not to mention directing her own play Clue last year. And this year she was also Birthday Concert Prefect, leading the Year 13’s in a full-on production!

There’s no doubt this young woman has left a deep and lasting impact on our school. Your time at Dio has been nothing short of exceptional and we believe you are ready to set the world alight – you are definitely an ‘individual who will make a difference’.

The David Gordon Cup for Outstanding Commitment and all round excellence in the Arts

Chloe Xiao

Chloe arrived in Year 3, quiet and observant, hard-working, and a very kind and caring little girl. In the Year 5 Wind Programme, she bravely chose to take up the oboe, not an instrument for the faint-hearted! It demands patience, perseverance and an incredible attention to detail – somehow, it was the perfect choice for Chloe.

It was clear from the beginning she was going places, and over the years we’ve had the privilege of watching her grow into herself, emerging as a confident, incredibly organised, gifted and deeply caring young woman.

Her oboe playing is exceptional, she is simply the best ever oboist we have had at Dio! Chloe has already achieved so much; ATCL Diploma and one of the most promising young players in the country, and she is the most beautiful dancer. She’s been involved in the Hip Hop and Jazz Troupe since Year 8, and has never missed a Night of Dance her entire time in senior school. She has achieved countless Dance awards, including Solo Seal in Jazz and being selected for PACANZ.

This year she is Roberton Prefect, Leader of both Symphony and Concert Band, and she led the Chinese Dance troupe at Culture Night.

But what we see over and over again is her humility and her sense of commitment to our arts program here at Dio. Her leadership skills, setting such a strong foundation for our younger generation of arts girls. Thank you for your tireless dedication, for the heart you’ve poured into every performance, every rehearsal, every note. You’ve led our groups with compassion and conviction, and you’ve definitely set the bar high.

Bayley’s Staff Arts Award 

Winner: Olwyn Davidson

Olwyn has been part of our community for eight years. She began as a Performing Arts Administrator, but it became very clear within few months that this lady brought an extraordinary range of skills and experience across the creative arts.

Before joining us, Olwyn had an impressive career in television and theatre. She worked as a broadcast operator for TVNZ, Sky TV and TV3, and as a Director of Camera and Sound. She was a professional camera operator across film and television, has directed plays, and has worked as a lighting designer for numerous independent theatre companies, including Silo Theatre and The Watershed.

Her extraordinary multidisciplinary skills now see her working in our amazing Dio theatre as our Lighting and AV Engineer across all our productions, Theatre Manager, props designer and projections operator.

Olwyn is an extraordinary creative talent, a generous mentor and an invaluable member of our Performing Arts team. She instigated our first Dio Cultural Night and worked closely with the Culture Prefects to bring to life their passion for celebrating diversity.

Over the past year, Olwyn has run workshops for backstage crew, building a team of dedicated, capable and highly skilled students and inspiring a new generation of young people to discover the many possibilities of theatre.

We are delighted to acknowledge her contribution and celebrate all that she brings to our community.

Staff Honours Arts Award  

Winner: Shona McIntyre-Bull

Shona was recently awarded the highest honour in the NZ Choral Federation. She has had a long and illustrious career in music education; her commitment to excellence in choral music, together with her distinguished service to the New Zealand Choral Federation, has had a lasting impact on generations of choristers and music educators.

28 years ago, she started Kids Sing, along with Dio’s previous Head of Music, Leonie Lawson. And this Festival has brought choral music to 1000’s of NZ’s young singers.

She has been Music Adviser to Schools, lecturer in Music Education at Auckland, a founding member of the National Youth Choir and sung in Voices New Zealand for over 20 years.

And of course, she is a much-loved teacher in Waiora now, but she was an outstanding Director of Choirs for eight years here, with St Cecilia Singers having a magnificent run of Gold awards under her directorship at Big Sing, VV and Bella Cantoris winning Gold after Gold at Kids Sing.

This woman is a total standout, and we feel enormously privileged to have her as part of our community. We are delighted to celebrate Shona, her extraordinary achievements and her remarkable contribution to generations of young singers.