We had HPAF yesterday (House Performing Arts Festival). It's honestly my favourite day of the year, same with others too. It's held at Robert Blackwood hall annually and is a big part of our school's culture. I completely lost my voice last night from all the screaming honestly. It's definitely a day I'll never forget once I leave school. It's basically like a super-sized production, where each house coordinates a performance. What's special about this is that every single student is involved in some way, including, but not exclusively restricted to, prop-making, backstage crew, instrumental group, dance, acting, singing and whole house singing (this is the category most people fall into - you could be in multiple though, if the plot allowed it). It's crazy. You'd never think a bunch of teenagers could pull off such spectacular performances that teachers have nothing to do with at all. And, above all, MY HOUSE WON! (That's why I lost my voice haha, we screamed so much when we found out we won). But it honestly brings the whole school together and I know the teachers love the day as well. Gives them a break from answering the questions we send them at like 10pm the day before our sacs and tests or just normally too (and they still reply! so grateful for teachers honestly). So many people cried (in our house, and others). It's not easy to be music captain, or dance captain, or small group captain and pull off something as amazing as this that requires hard work for a term or so. Being in year 11 or 12, I can say it's super difficult to manage HPAF and school and do well in both. Especially when you have to get so many students to listen to you. I'm so proud of every house, everyone came up with such amazing performances. The theme for this year was twisted fairytales, and all the songs and orchestra had to be 80s music. Our house was given Jack and the Beanstalk. Honestly, our plot and script were a little cheesy but it was amazing on stage. The other fairytales given to the other houses were The Ugly Duckling, Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel. You'd think it would be easy to twist a fairytale - but it's not! Next year, I really want to be a part of dance or act as one of the main characters. I know acting is always competitive to get into, as there are only like 3-5 characters for the whole performance anyway, and so is dance (we have too many good dancers!). I really hope our house can win next year too!
I've never heard of any school that hosts an event where EVERYONE must take part as a compulsory school event, but I'm so glad our school does. If HPAF wasn't compulsory, we'd probably only have like 15 people do it. Obviously, our school has production as well, but only like 20 people do that. HPAF is amazing, and we have all the alumni from the school come in and support their past house, as well as the judges that decide which house comes first, second, third and fourth. Not to mention the plethora of parents who attend too. I was so shocked when I found out my house came first. And so happy! I know I've said this a billion times but HPAF really brings everyone together (and apart! The other houses are all so salty our house won, smh. I was just having a heated argument with my friend about how my house rightfully deserved to win
. It's all fun and games though, just a bit of amusing banter). On this amazing night, you actually realise how talented the whole school is (I'm pretty sure like half my school plays a musical instrument like really well) and we have such amazing singers! I remember hearing a guy sing in one of the other house's act and he was amazing, I honestly thought he could win if he went on The Voice or something. But yeah anyways, when they announced the house that came fourth (last) we started cheering so much because we knew we wouldn't come last. Then, when the judges announced third place, we literally started roaring because we would be second or first. Then, when second place was announced, WE STARTED SCREAMING AND YELLING AND IT WAS SO LOUD and literally, everyone from my house lost their voices that night. FIRST PLACE! A dream come true for everyone, I'm sure. Not to mention, our house leaders were probably crying, and rightly so!
800+ kids performing in 4 unique well-coordinated acts that display amazing talent, from the details of the props and costumes to the dance choreography, to the melodies and harmonies in each voice, to the wonderful orchestra and to the narrating and acting: that's something you don't see every day! And since HPAF goes till 9:30, and most of us get home at around 10:30, we get a late start the next morning, so we miss first period. I know I've gone on for ages about how GREAT hpaf is, but I'm not exaggerating. I wanted to include this so later on, I can look back and remember these surreal moments I definitely never want to forget. This is always the best night of the year, hands down. I miss it already
. Waiting for next year's HPAF, and I'm already in anticipation for what the theme will be!
(probably so many typos in this but I can't be bothered rereading and fixing)