Today she will be among more than 250 graduands in humanities, including music and theology, who will graduate from the university at a 1pm ceremony in the Regent Theatre, Dunedin.
It felt "a bit surreal, really" to be graduating with her bachelor of music honours degree, endorsed in contemporary music.
Although it had taken four years to complete, her degree had suddenly seemed to be over, she said.
Her university academic and performance studies have proved highly successful and she has jointly won, with BCom graduate Robert Salvesen, the latest Prince of Wales Prize for the most outstanding Otago student completing an undergraduate degree.
Regarded by her teachers as equally talented on drums, in singing and guitar, she will be playing as a percussionist with the Southern Sinfonia again when it performs with The Topp Twins at the Regent Theatre, on June 16.
And her alternative rock band, Hunting Bears, recently released a five-track EP, Eye Contact with Strangers, which was recorded during her Otago studies last year.
Fellow band members Josh Simons, Michelle Anderton and Sam Holdom are present or former students at the Otago music department, and this year will be working together to create a full-length album.
"I'm not complaining. It's been great," she says about her recent success. She has enjoyed learning all she can about music, and developing the EP in the department's "hugely supportive environment".
Department head, Dr Graeme Downes, said Maddy was a "fantastic songwriter" and "incredibly multi-talented and bright", [student] who had the necessary "hunger" to learn and succeed.
Having completed her honours degree last year, she remains extremely busy, studying for an Otago music masters degree, performing music and holding down three part-time jobs.
"I feel qualified. I feel in some areas of music I know what I am talking about now."
