Rotorua Civic Arts Trust - RCAT

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Rotorua Civic Arts Trust supports, by way of funding, high quality artistic projects within the Rotorua District that will allow the local community to experience top class events and build its skill base.

Ian Yoo won the Speech Board Junior prize (Teacher - Jennifer Wicks)
22/02/2026

Ian Yoo won the Speech Board Junior prize (Teacher - Jennifer Wicks)

Carter Swanson - Grade 2 Trinity Music - piano (Teacher - Hazel Hausman)
22/02/2026

Carter Swanson - Grade 2 Trinity Music - piano (Teacher - Hazel Hausman)

Lingxin Guo - Grade 6 Trinity Music - piano (Teacher - Hazel Hausman)
22/02/2026

Lingxin Guo - Grade 6 Trinity Music - piano (Teacher - Hazel Hausman)

Neal Pardal - Grade 1 Trinity Speech and Drama (Teacher - Jennifer Wicks)
22/02/2026

Neal Pardal - Grade 1 Trinity Speech and Drama (Teacher - Jennifer Wicks)

Ranumi Rodrigo - Grade 2 Trinity Musical Theatre (Teacher - Evelyn Falconer)
22/02/2026

Ranumi Rodrigo - Grade 2 Trinity Musical Theatre (Teacher - Evelyn Falconer)

Cherry Wheeler (in performance) - Grade 6 Trinity Musical Theatre (Teacher - Evelyn Falconer)
22/02/2026

Cherry Wheeler (in performance) - Grade 6 Trinity Musical Theatre (Teacher - Evelyn Falconer)

On Tuesday 10 February, our Trust Chairperson, Sandy Hall, proudly presented awards to students who achieved the highest...
22/02/2026

On Tuesday 10 February, our Trust Chairperson, Sandy Hall, proudly presented awards to students who achieved the highest marks in their 2025 Trinity College London Speech & Drama and Music examinations, as well as Speech New Zealand exams. The celebration was made even more special by the outstanding performances shared by many of the award recipients. Their confidence, skill, and stage presence were truly inspiring, and each performance was met with enthusiastic appreciation from the audience. It was a wonderful occasion highlighting not only academic excellence, but also the remarkable talent and dedication of our students.

Two students could not attend: Harrison Roberts-Brake, who won the Senior Speech Board prize (teacher - Gabrielle Thurston), and Charlotte Woerd who was first equal in Grade 5 Musical Theatre, passing with distinction (teacher - Evelyn Falconer).

Back row L to R: Cherry Wheeler, Lingxin Guo
Front row: L to R: Ranumi Rodrigo, Neal Pardal, Ian Yoo, Carter Swanson

Well done to everyone.

We are delighted to recognise the outstanding achievements of Harrison Roberts-Brake (extreme right of the photo), a Yea...
22/02/2026

We are delighted to recognise the outstanding achievements of Harrison Roberts-Brake (extreme right of the photo), a Year 13 student at John Paul College.
Harrison has been selected to travel to the United Kingdom in 2026 as a member of the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company — a prestigious honour awarded to a small group of students nationwide in recognition of exceptional performance ability and dedication to Shakespearean theatre.
In 2025, Harrison completed his Trinity College London and Speech Board Speech and Drama Diplomas, consistently achieving Honours with Distinction in his examinations. His commitment to excellence in performance is evident in both his academic and practical achievements.

Serving as Deputy Head Boy at John Paul College, Harrison exemplifies leadership alongside artistic talent. One of his most significant accomplishments was portraying Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — a role that demanded considerable emotional depth and technical precision, and one that profoundly shaped him as a performer. He has also appeared in the school production of Mamma Mia! and performed at numerous community events.
In 2026, Harrison will continue his academic journey at the University of Canterbury. We congratulate him on his remarkable achievements and wish him every success as he pursues his future goals.

Well done, Harrison — your dedication and growth as both a leader and performer are truly commendable.



Our 2025 Rotorua Civic Arts Trust Scholarship recipients.
L to R: Ihita Nath, Purity Rimaha, Maria Davenhill and Harrison Roberts-Brake

We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Purity, a Year 13 student at Rotorua Girls' High School.Pu...
22/02/2026

We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Purity, a Year 13 student at Rotorua Girls' High School.
Purity is one of just 24 students nationwide selected to travel to the UK in 2026 with the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company — an exceptional honour that recognises her talent, dedication, and commitment to the performing arts.
In 2025, Purity was named a Young Achiever and received multiple school awards for Performing Arts. Her passion and excellence have been evident across numerous prestigious events and organisations, including Cadena, SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music–NZ Choral Federation, the New Zealand Shakespeare Festival, and the Registered Music Teachers Scholarship Competition, where she earned awards at each level of participation.
Beyond her own performance accomplishments, Purity is also an inspiring mentor, preparing several music students for examinations and sharing her knowledge with the next generation of performers. Her musical excellence was further recognised when she was awarded the Michael Pilaar Scholarship in 2021.
In 2026, Purity will begin a Bachelor of Arts at Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in Sociology. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and look forward to seeing her continue to thrive both artistically and academically.
Congratulations, Purity — your dedication and success are truly inspiring.

We are proud to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of Maria Davenhill, a Year 13 student at Rotorua Girls' High Sc...
22/02/2026

We are proud to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of Maria Davenhill, a Year 13 student at Rotorua Girls' High School.

Maria has demonstrated outstanding dedication to her craft, successfully completing her Trinity College London Classical Singing and Musical Theatre examinations. In 2023, she was awarded a Civic Arts Trust Scholarship for achieving the highest marks — a testament to her technical excellence and artistry.
Her passion for performance has been evident across a wide range of prestigious events and programmes. Maria has participated in The Big Sing, the New Zealand Shakespeare Festival, and the Accelerando programme. In recognition of her musical talent, she was also awarded the Michael Pilaar Scholarship in 2023.
As Arts Prefect, Maria provided inspiring leadership within the school’s creative community, while also earning numerous awards for Performing Arts. Her stage experience is extensive, with roles in productions including Freaky Friday, Legally Blonde, Moana, Jersey Boys, and Cats, as well as performances at various community events.

In 2026, Maria will begin university study toward a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Performing Arts or Music. We congratulate her on her remarkable accomplishments and look forward to seeing her continued success in the years ahead.

Shining Bright, A Proud Moment for Rotorua Civic Arts Trust: 2025 Scholarship RecipientsWe are incredibly proud to celeb...
22/02/2026

Shining Bright, A Proud Moment for Rotorua Civic Arts Trust: 2025 Scholarship Recipients

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Ihita, a Year 13 student at John Paul College, for her outstanding achievements in the performing arts.
Ihita has dedicated over 10 years to Speech and Drama training and continues to excel at the highest level. In 2025, she placed third in the regional PACANZ Performer of the Year competition — a remarkable accomplishment that reflects her commitment, skill, and stage presence. She also achieved her AASB Speech and Drama Teaching Diploma with Distinction, demonstrating both excellence in performance and a strong academic foundation in the discipline.
In addition to her personal achievements, Ihita generously shares her passion for drama as an assistant teacher for two primary-aged classes. Her students have experienced significant success in the 2025 competitions under her guidance, highlighting her natural leadership and teaching ability.
Ihita has also contributed vibrantly to the stage, performing in John Paul College’s production of Mamma Mia! and with Lakeview Performing Arts Centre in Frozen.
Looking ahead, Ihita plans to begin a Bachelor of Science in 2026, majoring in Biochemical Sciences. We wish her every success as she continues to pursue excellence in both the arts and academia.
Congratulations, Ihita — your dedication and achievements are truly inspiring.

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