West Auckland Performing Arts Competitions, since 1990
The West Auckland Performing Arts Competitions was founded in 1990, by a committee of West Auckland based music and speech teachers.
Our annual competitions have been very successful, with competitors coming from all over Auckland and beyond. We are indebted to the Aotea Youth Symphony Orchestra and Paul Harrop the conductor, who has been with us since the beginning. The orchestra has given the many competitors both piano and violin a unique opportunity to perform on stage with an orchestra. Many competitors over the years have chosen music as a career.
In 2022, WAPAC started a new chapter and became an Incorporated Society and welcomes all new members.
Our Purpose
We welcome Music Teachers their students and families to join us annually for the WAPAC competitions. Across all sections of the competition we are unified in our purpose:
To provide public performance opportunities for students of music and speech.
To engage expert adjudicators to assess progress of student performers.
To meet the needs of music and speech teachers through independent assessments of their students.
To foster a greater understanding and appreciation of performing arts in the community.
To award cups, certificates and prizes in recognition of excellence, proficiency or promise.
Volunteer
WAPAC is so grateful for the many music teachers and volunteers who give their time to ensure that the competition goes ahead. Volunteers are welcome across all sections of our competition.
To volunteer at the 2024 competition please register your interest here.
WAPAC’s Founding Member
The WAPAC committee was founded and led by Mrs. Elizabeth Noffke who received a QSM in 2018 for services to music and who continues as a committee member. In 1990, Elizabeth Noffke and the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre Manager at the time, led the initiative to acquire a performance-grand piano for the Centre for the staging of WAPAC. Elizabeth is passionate to ensure the longevity of the competitions for teachers and students.
2024 WAPAC Committee
President
Meghan Carppe
Vice President
Kim Naden
Secretary
Adrienne Hansen
Treasurer
Soomin Kim
Committee
Melissa Tsoi