Name: Larissa Kent
Catalogue: Culture Sub-Catalogue: Music
Achievements:
Year level:13
Form class:VE
accomplished musician.
Larissa Kent is an accomplished musician. She has played the recorder, guitar,
violin, flute, piano, French horn and harmonica just to name a few. However, her
favourite instrument of all has to be her voice. Larissa loves singing for a number
of reasons. “I love learning the pieces initially, as there are a range of really nice
pieces to choose from and also because of the buzz I get after the performance”.
She began singing in year 8, joining the intermediate choir. Although, Larissa decided to take up private lessons
with Jill Tobin at the beginning of last year, receiving a high distinction in her Grade 7 exam. Next year she plans
to sit her Grade 8 exams, with hopes to complete the ATCL diploma and study performance music at Auckland
University eventually.
Her achievements to date are impressive; being accepted into the all-girls c hoir ‘Voix du Femmes’ in year ten,
where she was one of four to be offered a place, auditioning and being accepted into the New Zealand Singing
School and performing at the school Arts festival just to name a few. “A highlight was also getting to work with
David Hamilton; a well-known New Zealand composer. This experience motivated and encouraged me even
further in my journey as a singer as I learnt so much and really understood all that was being taught and it is
awesome to be able to take away with me all the skills I learnt from these outstanding tutors”, Larissa said.
Most noticeably, Larissa just recently won Hawke’s Bay Musician of the year. Her talent is unbelievable, walking
away with $1,500, as well as a $500 scholarship at a competition just a week later. “I managed to make it to the
finals thinking I had no chance of winning but obviously the adjudicator (who used to conduct the New Zealand
Symphony Orchestra) thought otherwise and I walked away as the winner and $1500 richer! It was the highlight of
my year”.
Name:Elise Legarth
Catalogue: Sports Sub-Catalogue: Canoe
Achievements:
Sprint Year level:13
Form class:WK
2015 ICF Canoe Sprint Junior and U23 Worlds 2015 16th K4 500m and 26th K1 500m
NZ and Oceania U18 K1 500m, K2 200m and K2 500m National Titles 2015
Since taking up Canoe Sprint at the end of year eight, Elise Legarth has made her name known. Training a total of
elven time a week; eight times on the Clive River and three times in the gym, she is determined to achieve success
in her chosen sport. “I love being out on the water and training and I also enjoy doing well and the opportunities
that success brings”. Her enthusiasm and love for the sport was sparked when she became injured. “I was injured,
so had to give up netball and I wanted to get faster for Canoe Polo. Just this year, Elise won the 2015 New Zealand
and Oceania titles in the U18 K1 500m, K2 200m and K2 500m. She also represented New Zealand at the 2015
ICF Canoe Sprint Junior World Championships where she placed 16th in the K4 500m and 26th in the K1 500m.
“I have been selected in Canoe Racing New Zealand’s ‘Paddle to Podium’ programme which looks at preparing us
for (the 2020 Games) but before then, the goal is to make the U23 team next year”, she said. Elise has her sights
set firmly on making the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Next year, she plans to go to Waikato University and continue to
make high performance squads.
Her career highlight in what has been a whirlwind couple of years so far, has to be spending six weeks in Hungary
training and going to Junior Worlds she says.