Students' concert in honour of teacher

Rotorua Hospice chief executive officer Sharron Black (left, rear) received $320 from Rotorua Lakes High School acting principal Jo Sturme. Photo / Stephen Parker

A member of the music community was remembered last Wednesday by Rotorua Lakes High School students, who raised money for Rotorua Hospice.

Music students paid tribute to their piano and vocal teacher, Sherlie Dingwall, in a memorial concert which raised $320 for the hospice.

Students performed original music and covers, Rotorua Lakes High School music teacher Chris Pasco said.

"I didn't have the heart to run a talent competition once Sherlie had died and at the funeral we heard it announced she didn't want flowers but donations to Hospice."

He said only the school's top music students performed.

"It was a high standard of music performance.

"Every student had to have achieved NCEA with excellence."

He said Ms Dingwall would have enjoyed the music that was performed.

"There were just acoustic and voice performances with no amplification - no groups or rock'n'roll bands, which is exactly what Sherlie would have wanted.

"They all chose all the songs which have meaning to her.

"[With Ms Dingwall] the kids were learning as opposed to being taught. She [was] very passionate about her whole life.

"She worked with the school for around five years and made a massive impact," Mr Pasco said. "She left a legacy."

Rotorua Hospice chief executive Sharron Black said what the students had done was "lovely".

"I think the lovely thing about this is that it's the youth - they have been touched by this and I think the lovely thing is they set it up and they played pieces or songs that they felt lived up to her memory.

"Things like this, they really help us for our operational levels.

"We need $800,000 in funding every year. It all makes a huge difference," she said.