37 years in and Smokefreerockquest continues to grow, the high school band competition having its biggest year yet in 2024 with nearly 900 school-aged bands competing across Aotearoa to win the national title.
The top 10 national finalists performed at Sky City Theatre in central Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday September 21, with Top Shelf from Manurewa High School crowned this year’s winning band, and Emerson from Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (formerly The Correspondence School) the winning Solo/Duo performer.
Having already claimed first place in in 2024’s Tangata Beats competition, Top Shelf were the night’s biggest and most musically diverse competing band.
Guitarist Taparia Engu summed up the night well. “It feels bloody amazing, I can’t describe it. If I’m honest, watching the show I’d already surrendered because the other bands were just so good. There were all different kinds of talents here. It was amazing to see.”
Taparia Engu was also awarded an inaugural scholarship, which he plans to use to pursue audio engineering studies at SAE.
Offered for the first time this year, the scholarship provides financial support for one student for up to three years of tertiary education at any NZ institution, allowing them to complete their chosen undergraduate degree. “Getting this scholarship means so much to me. I want a career in music, and I love music, so this really means so much.”
Top Shelf also includes students Charles Lia (vocals), Sheneah Bayaban (brass), Ashton Emmerson (bass), Joshua Engu (drums), Taparia Engu (guitar), Charlie Mupopo Miller (vocals) and Louise Ponifasio (brass). The band won an $18,000 prize package.
First place in the Solo/Duo category was Aucklander Emerson (Emma Wagner), who coincidentally is also a member of last year’s Rockquest-winning band Parkdale. Emerson also won the award for Electronic Assistance, and the Best Song award for her song Bored.
“I am feeling shaky, buzzed and really excited. When it came time to go on stage I was really nervous, but then as soon as I stepped through the wings I thought to myself, ‘Here we go, let’s do it!’ ”
Second place in the Solo/Duo section went to solo performer Koyla Marks from Kuranui College in the Wairarapa. The Splinters from Havelock North High School were named second place winners in the band category, with Rumpus Machine from Long Bay College on Auckland’s North Shore third.
Tauranga artist Georgia Lines, who was winner of the Solo/Duo section as well as the overall Musicianship award of the 2014 Rockquest, performed while the judges deliberated. With her debut album released just this year, the 10-year gap between winning at SFRQ and her burgeoning international career provided an ideal pointer to what lies ahead for some of the night’s excellent young musicians.
Judging the national final this year were musicians Lucy Suttor, Riiki Reid, Angelo Munro, along with Hamish Jackson, and Jeff Newton (NZ On Air).
