Music:
The Pukekohe High School Music Department provides many exciting opportunities for students to perform at a local, regional and national levels. Musicians from the programme have gone onto perform successfully on the national and international stage as professional musicians in the Rodger Fox Big Band, the Air Force Band and the NZ Symphony Orchestra.

With an experienced and highly talented Music department, supported by highly skilled itinerant music teachers, small group lessons cover practical techniques, music reading, theory, composition and technology. A selection of string, woodwind, brass and percussion itinerant lessons are available, along with vocal, piano and guitar/bass training. A comprehensive selection of instruments is available for hire though the school for a small fee, with priority going to those students who take music as a subject option.

Students can join a number of co-curricular music groups, ranging from small chamber ensembles to Jazz and rock groups, through to the Concert Band, String Ensemble and Choir. Musical styles played cover classical to fun contemporary, jazz and blues, rock and pop and many others.

The ensembles all play at festivals and competitions including the KBB Music Festival, Matamata Festival, Tauranga Jazz Festival, Wellington Jazz Festival, Manawatu Jazz festival, NZCBA, Rhapsody in Rotorua, Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata beats. The ensembles here have regularly been awarded Gold Certificates and trophies at the events they attend.

Dance:
Dance is a leveller across all cultures and societies; every group globally has a unique, exciting and powerful creation of movement considered as dance. At Pukekohe High School, we have a strong dance programme for our young men and women, both in and out of the classroom. Techniques in a range of dance styles are taught as subject option. Students are provided with opportunities to create their own dances through music interpretation and develop a range of choreographic skills including leadership.

We will be participating in DanceNZ Made, a fun, relaxed, interschool dance competition where students have the opportunity to earn NCEA credits, performing their own choreographic work and participating in workshops on the day, and we regularly participate in Showquest; a student run dance competition against other New Zealand schools. Every year, we hold an amazing Dance Showcase for whanau, friends and community to showcase dancers’ skills and talent.

Drama:
Drama at Pukekohe High School is offered as a subject option across all years. Led by a supportive and talented staff, students explore ideas and concepts of topics and works to develop self-awareness and self-esteem to grow into confident, articulate and creative individuals. By learning to work both individually and in groups, exploring different time periods and life experiences, students can create innovative and intriguing work to communicate powerful and emotional messages.

Students have participated in the national “Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival”, a series of regional and national festivals through the Otago of University. This fabulous, student led opportunity to explore the world of Shakespeare and perform outside of school is open to all our students, not just those who are taking Drama as a subject option.

Visual Arts:
Pukekohe High school visual Arts is lead by a talented and passionate team who are successful artists in their own right and keen teachers of everything art. The creation of Visual art empowers students to consider the visual world we live in. It is a personal journey of their own life experiences and interests, to question and interpret thoughts and ideas and communicate this with viewers for consideration.

Our students reach high levels of success with many gaining competition awards and scholarships to continue studying at tertiary levels. They are encouraged to take the opportunity to exhibit their art in exhibitions and around the school where possible.