Fifteen secondary-school acts lit up the stage at Oamaru’s premier performing arts and events venue that offers students the opportunity to showcase their talents and perform original music on professional stages.
Waitaki Girls’ High year 13 students Winnie and Olivia, both 17, took second place in the solo/duo category and also won one of five special awards, the APRA Lyric Award.
Winnie said hearing their names being announced was "amazing".
"We were so excited and so happy, it was amazing," she said.
The talented North Otago duo took first place in solo/duo at the 2024 Smokefreerockquest, and best vocals last year, as well as winning the Lyric Award in 2023.
The band category was won by Inside Joke (Roncalli College), One Layne Bridge (Ashburton College) second, and third place went to Jimi’s Watching (Mount Hutt College). Winnie said they were also "very happy" for Mount Hutt College student Harriet Brown who took first place in solo/duo, and received a musicianship award.
"Harriet has been in our heats ever since we were in year 9, so we’ve kind of gone through Smokefreerockquest every year with her, so it was a really nice thing to see her win," she said.
Mount Hutt College student Aldrian Bulosan, the drummer from Jimi’s Watching also received a musicianship award, and Timaru Girls’ High School student Nakeisha Austin from L.A.M.E received the Smokefree Best Vocals Award.
The Rockshop Electronic Assist Performance Award went to Fox Thr33 (Geraldine High School).
Jarrel Casitas, 17, from St Kevin’s College (SKC), was awarded the Wright Family Foundation Best Song Award and fellow SKC student Jemima Riley-Duddin, 17, also sang on the night.
"Jarrel and Jemima are two of our best friends who also were performing, so it was just really nice and so much fun ... and really nice to have it at the Oamaru Opera House this year," Winnie said.
In each region, the top two acts from each category advance to video submissions for national finalist selection.
Winnie said they now have to submit recordings of three of their original songs in 20 days to go to the national competition.
"I have no idea where we’ll find the time yet, but Liv and I have four songs we’ve officially recorded so hopefully they will also come out in the next few months," she said.
Also last year’s Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Talent show winners Winnie and Olivia also recorded their first EP last year with their dads, Craig Conlan and Jay Morriss, playing back-up at the Sublime Studios.
Their families and friends were all present at the Timaru Regional Finals to cheer them on.
Olivia’s father Jay Morriss said it was a "proud Dad moment" when their names were announced.
"It was quite amazing what they put together, they continue to surprise me really," he said.
Mr Morriss said the support the students received from their school music teachers was also "testament to their win".
"Some of the music teachers were there, too, which is always nice ... for a lot of the schoolchildren this is the first time their self-penned songs have been performed in public so it’s a great opportunity," he said.
The Smokefreerockquest National Finals will be held in Auckland in September.
