"It's the first time we've entered. The children ran into the music room this morning stoked with their success and eager to do it all again."
The school would be organising an assembly performance for the band to showcase their talent, Powley said.
"I am so proud of them."
He said the event was like the little brother of the high school's Rockquest competition and gave "the younger kids a chance".
For a lot of the kids, it would be their first time on a professional stage with proper equipment and a large crowd.
Not for 11-year-old Nikau Grace, lead singer of the band who took out the top vocalist award at the event.
Grace is well-known in the local community for her voice and the shows she has been involved in.
She has featured on Te Arawa FM and sung at the Blues Festival on Eat Streat and even has Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick as a fan.
Powley said she is "mature beyond her years".
The First Impressions band was made up of Nikau on vocals, Tayla Paul on bass, Emily Davies and Joel Oberbye on guitar, Te Akau Bennett on drums and Isaiah Hiva on keyboard.
The event itself is organised by the same team behind Smokefree Rockquest, Smokefree Tangata Beats, and Showquest performing arts competitions.
The band came second to the overall regional winners from Otumoetai Intermediate.
Last year's national winners were Revolution Radio from Mount Maunganui Intermediate.
Founder and director Glenn Common said Rockshop Bandquest was a vehicle to develop musical talent.
It was clear the event had a lasting impact experience on the participants, he said.
"Rockshop Bandquest is likely to be the first experience these kids have on a full set-up, with a light show and professionally mixed sound," he said.
"They're performing to a live audience of their peers and families, which is both challenging and confidence building."
This year more than 200 bands around the country have entered Rockshop Bandquest, performing in events run from August 12 to August 31.
