Olivia Allen is 14 years old and in year 10 at Takapuna Grammar School. She lives in Bayswater with her mum, dad, and two younger brothers Luke and Sam as well as her two cats and a dog. She has taken part in many musical productions, with her most recent role as Pinocchio in Disney's ‘My Son Pinocchio’ produced by Encore Theatre Collective. She also appeared in 2019 as Annie in the National Youth Theatre Company’s production at Aotea Centre.
What is your most favourite thing to do for fun on the North Shore?
My favourite thing to do on the North Shore is hang out at the beach with my friends. I love to swim and enjoy being outside.
What do you think you are good at?
I really love singing, acting and performing, I enjoy being on the stage and performing with friends.
Who do you aspire to be like when you grow up?
I aspire to be like Lorde, I love her creativity and unique voice: she is very inspirational.
Name one thing most people wouldn’t know about you:
I get really really nervous and feel sick before going on stage, even though I love it once I'm out there!
What do you hope to achieve in 2020?
I am really excited to be playing Young Cosette in Takapuna Grammar School's production of 'Les Miserables'. I also am looking forward to auditioning for and being part of the Encore Theatre Collective's production of 'Cinderella', and I want to do well in my year 10 exams.
Olivia's singing teacher Suzanne Lynch says:
I have had the pleasure of teaching Olivia for a few years now, and am so proud of her and all she is achieving – she is a talent to watch, and I’m sure she will be a very well known singer and performer in the theatre or whatever musical path she chooses in the future.
Josh Greenway is 11 years old and in year 8 at Belmont Intermediate School. He lives in Hauraki Corner with his mum and dad and little brother, and his dog called Zep. Josh recently performed with his band at Takachella in Takapuna.
What is your most favourite thing to do for fun on the North Shore?
live near Hauraki Primary School which is great as I can go and play with my friends in the weekend down at school. There’s lots of room and we can play manhunt and tag. I like meeting up with my friends who live close to me. I also take my tennis racquet down there and hit the ball up against the brick wall with my brother.
What do you think you are good at?
My biggest talent is music, drumming to be specific. I’ve been learning for three years now with my teacher Shaun. I have played in school rock bands and done a few performances too. Usually the band practises at my house because I have the drum kit and it’s hard to move it around. I am also in another rock band that I’ve just started, with the Rudd School of Rock. I’m hoping to do more gigs with them too.
I am also a magician – I love learning new tricks and showing my family.
Who do you aspire to be like when you grow up?
Probably someone like John Bonham who was the drummer in rock band Led Zeppelin, except without all the addiction problems!
Name one thing most people wouldn’t know about you:
When I was little, like about four or five years old at kindy, I wanted to be a policeman when I grew up. And my little brother wanted to be a robber!
What do you hope to achieve in 2020?
I want to succeed in passing my grade five drum exams and to perform in Bandquest and Smokefree Rockquest.
Josh's drum teacher Shaun Malyon says:
Josh is a fantastic student who is always focused and enthusiastic every time he sits behind the drum kit. It's a pleasure witnessing his evolution as a drummer week by week.
Amber Stevenson is 15 years old. She lives at home with her mum and dad and younger sister Anna in Hauraki. Amber goes to Takapuna Grammar School and enjoys dancing and singing and hanging out with her friends.
What is your most favourite thing to do for fun on the North Shore?
These are my three favourite things:
1. I enjoy going to Belmont Youth Group on Friday nights. I get to meet up with my friends. We do lots of fun things together like table tennis, basketball, chatting and eating together.
2. I love to swing on the home-made swings on Takapuna beach.
3. Art Adventure at the Wilson Centre; it is fun and I like being creative.
What do you think you are good at?
Performing arts. I love it. Last year I was in 'Madagascar Junior' and I played Rico, a penguin. I had to learn the words, dance moves and the songs. We practised and practised until it was perfect. The performances on stage were fun. We took bows and the audience clapped, shouted and whistled because they loved it.
This year I’m in ‘The Incredible and Glorious World According to the Fitzroys’ at the Auckland Fringe Festival. Also, I’m auditioning for Peter Pan with Glass Ceiling Arts Collective. I’m very excited and would like to be Wendy.
Who do you aspire to be like when you grow up?
I want to be a teacher and a parent. Teachers work with and help kids to read, read them stories, learn to write and everything.
Charlotte Nightingale of Glass Ceiling Arts Collective says:
Amber is an exceptional talent. She is an awesome dancer and actor and I don't think I've every seen her without a smile on her face. Her energy truly is infectious! What I love about her is that she is so enthusiastic in class and rehearsal and gives her best to everything she does. I feel certain she has a glorious career in the arts ahead of her.
Christina Sieberhagen is 14 years old and has had a passion for the environment for as long as she can remember. She lives in a family of seven and goes to Northcote College.
What is your most favourite thing to do for fun on the North Shore?
My taekwondo Dojang is on the Shore, so that would be it. I have been doing taekwondo since I was eight and I have loved it ever since. I now am a Second Poom black belt and almost qualified as an instructor, which I have enjoyed progressing in over the past year and a half.
What do you think you are good at?
I think I am good at school and involving myself in lots of different opportunities.
Who do you aspire to be like when you grow up?
Last year I was privileged enough to be able to hear Dr Jane Goodall speak. It was a surreal experience and she is an incredible influence. I would aspire to be like her. Her kindness, wisdom and tolerance are admirable.
Name one thing most people wouldn’t know about you:
I spoke at the 15th March 2019 climate strike! It was an awesome experience and I absolutely love public speaking. It was so inspiring because people came up to me afterwards and even after the strike saying how inspiring the speech was: it was incredible. If you'd like to listen to it, email me (via kim@channelmag.co.nz).
What do you hope to achieve in 2020?
I am in Year 11 so I would like to get an Excellence Endorsement for NCEA Level 1 as well as become an instructor at my taekwondo. At my school, I am progressing plans around becoming carbon neutral. I have many other smaller goals but those are the main ones.
What Christina's teachers say about her:
My teachers say that I am highly motivated and that I can achieve whatever I want to if I put my mind to it. My taekwondo instructor says I talk too much though.
