Pupils Sydney concert success

Napier Girls High orchestra perform at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Thirty-one students from Napier Girls' High School have returned from a highlight of their musical lives - playing a concert at the prestigious Sydney Opera House.

"It was a remarkable experience for everyone and the girls were just blown away by it," the school's head of music and arts, Suzanne Purdy, said.

The Year 10 to Year 13 students in the orchestra began planning and fundraising about a year ago for the trip to the annual World Projects South Pacific Music Festival.

"It was a lot of preparation, a lot of rehearsals and the girls each had to fundraise to take part," Mrs Purdy said.

It was the first time the school had taken part in the festival, although given the silver award they won at a musical presentation event at the Sydney Music Conservatorium, it would not be the last.

Napier Girls' High was one of just three New Zealand schools taking part. The others were from Christchurch and Whanganui.

They joined musical groups and choirs from Australia, the United States, China, Singapore and Indonesia.