For the second year in a row, Pāpāmoa’s Got Talent saw students take to the stage to sing, dance, drum and more.

Pāpāmoa College hosted the event on Thursday, August 29, and students from Tahatai Coast School won the top prize.

“It was all about fostering a love for the performing arts,” event organiser Liz Proudlock said. “To give it a go.”

Indigo, a band, from Tahatai Coast School, won the top prize from the Rock Shop and secured the Pāpāmoa’s Got Talent Shield.

Leo Anderson, also from Tahatai, won second place for his saxophone performance.

The students who participated encouraged each other and helped in various capacities, from helping backstage to judging, Proudlock said.

A range of sponsors helped to make the talent show a success, including the Rock Shop, Fresh Choice, Coastline Productions, Upton School of Music, Dani Archer Education Tutoring, Catherine Roberts, a piano teacher, Rotorua Canopy Tours, Four Square Papamoa, Kedian Family, and Lux Cinemas Papamoa.

“Every student who participated got a $10 voucher from Fresh Choice,” Proudlock said.

Various acts and students won awards, and it was not just about first and second place.

Gurangad Singh Matharu won the Judges Special Recognition award for his cultural drumming.

Student James Fern and the Academy Dance Studios’ Hannah Robson judged the competition.

Pāpāmoa Primary School, Golden Sands School, Te Ākau ki Pāpāmoa School, Suzanne Aubert Catholic School Papamoa and Tahatai Coast School were involved.

With the talent show a success, Proudfoot is now preparing Papmoa College’s junior production of High School Musical 2 for October 16.

“We will have two different casts for the production,” Proudlock says. “A lava cast and spring cast.”

The lava cast will consist of students in Years 7, 8 and 9, and the spring cast will include older students in Years 9 and 10.

Two casts meant the students did not have to compete against each other for limited roles and fostered a sense of mentoring from the older students, Proudlock says.

“It takes courage to be in front of a large audience and perform.”

The production will run from October 16-19 at Papamoa College, 151 Doncaster Rd, Papamoa. Doors will open at 6.30pm.

Tickets range from $10-50 and can be purchased at High School Musical 2 - Papamoa College Tickets.