Music school students hold their own graduation to 'spite the University'

University of Auckland music students are outraged after their autumn graduation gala concerto was postponed to spring and will hold their own event.

Head of the music school Martin Rummel broke the news to students via email.

Since then the School of Music Students Association has organised a “Not Graduation Gala”, which will take place tonight, despite the institution’s decision.

SOMSA president Leo Jaffrey says the decision to postpone the event has been a ripple effect of the students’ frustration towards a proposed staff reshuffle at the school.

“The university was worried there was going to be some form of protest.

“And students said that was stupid, we want to play and do what we came here to study.”

SOMSA has decided to organise its own gala which will have the same line-up and repertoire.

However, it will not be an official university graduation gala.

The name of the event was chosen specifically to “spite the school”, says Mr Jaffrey.

Associate concert master Marika Balzat says the postponing of the official event was “unfair” to soloists performing and this evening’s event is for the musicians.

“We are doing it for the soloists because it’s unfair that they were told two weeks before that it would be postponed to September.”

President of the Creative Arts and Industries student association Jimenez Rojas says for the university to decide at the last minute to reschedule the biannual concerto was a cruel move.

“These students worked so hard to showcase their talents and then the uni stripped that opportunity away.”

Mr Jaffrey says SOMSA has hired a venue to put on the Not Graduation Gala so that students are still given the opportunity to perform.

A flautist for the University of Auckland’s music school, Esther Hunt, believes there will be a big turn-out for the event.

“With the staffing reshuffle that is proposed to happen in the school of music, there is a lot of dissatisfaction amongst the music community at the moment,

“That has generated a lot of support for the affected staff and students, and I expect that to reflect highly in audience numbers tonight.”

University music student Jacquelyn Grace says she’s glad the students have taken matters into their own hands after the abrupt postponement.

“I’m stoked that SOMSA has taken it upon themselves to organise an event to specifically showcase the talent of our musicians.”

The Not Graduation gala is 7pm tonight at the Centennial Theatre, Auckland Grammar School.