Students showcasing talents

Emily Jayne Powell (left) is in the line-up for Heights Creative tonight. Photo / Stephen Parker

Western Heights High School's performers are putting on a show tonight to reveal why they are ranked among the best in New Zealand.

Heights Creative is on at the Rotorua Civic Theatre from 7pm and will feature a range of performers who have excelled this year.

Among them are the school's Big Band, which won the National Jazz Competition in Palmerston North as well as a gold award at Rhapsody Rotorua. Strangely Arousin came second at Battle of the Bands and was the school's Stage Challenge team, which won the regional heat.

Head of Music Adam Hague said it would be a great night of entertainment.

"We have award-winning acts and it's a relatively cheap night out for entertainment of that calibre," he said.

"It's a good community event and allows our students to perform in a public arena. It's also a summation of different areas of performing arts and gives the public a chance to see what we're about."

He said the acts were always "pretty well-rehearsed" though some took to the stage at lunch yesterday for the school's Talent Quest finals.

Also due to appear are Te Roopu Manaaki, the school's kapa haka group, soloists Emily Jayne Powell and Ruby Solly and a piece from The Tempest, performed by drama students.

Heights Creative starts at 7pm at the Rotorua Civic Theatre.

Tickets are $5 school-age students and $10 adults.