She Wrote the Song. She Took the Stage. And She Shone.

Kate, a Year 12 student at Infinite Academy, recently performed an original song at a regional music competition in Hawke's Bay. Performing before a live audience and a panel of judges, she received enthusiastic feedback for her work.

Cages

Kate competed as a solo artist at the regional heats of Rockquest, one of New Zealand's most prestigious national music competitions for secondary school students. Her original song, Cages, earned her highly positive feedback from the judges and captivated the audience.

But the recognition did not stop at the regional stage. Kate's original lyrics have been entered into the APRA Lyric Award competition, a national songwriting award that runs alongside Rockquest and recognises exceptional talent in the craft of songwriting.

Two competitions. One original song. And a student who wrote every word herself.

The Courage It Takes

There is something worth saying about what it takes to do what Kate did: To write something personal and real, then stand in front of strangers and perform it. That takes a particular kind of courage that goes well beyond musical ability.

At Infinite Academy, we love seeing students pursue the things that matter most to them. Kate is a wonderful example of what can happen when passion, hard work and courage come together. She's not waiting for opportunities to find her; she's creating them for herself, competing at a national level, earning recognition from industry organisations, and proving that talent combined with bravery can take you a very long way.

Whatever comes next for Kate, we will be cheering from every corner of Aotearoa. We are incredibly proud of you, Kate. The stage suits you.

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