Punchbowl High School celebrates YouthRock Band title
Punchbowl Boys’ High School’s band, 320, have been crowned 2018 YouthRock Band Competition champions on their third attempt.
The Express
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On April 22, Punchbowl Boys’ High School’s band, 320, was crowned 2018 YouthRock Band Competition champions.
The win capped off years of dedication and hard work for 320: who finally took out gold on their third attempt.
Music teacher Michael White who has guided the boys throughout the entire process, could not be prouder and called the victory a “dream come true.”
As Punchbowl Boys’ High School acting principal Robert Patruno aptly put it: “the band’s victory at YouthRock truly highlights what is achievable through hard work and the ability to focus on one’s learning to achieve any goal”.
Lead vocalist and Year 9 student Wilkinson Papalii-Afoa, who was the youngest member of the band, described the winning experience as a “massive shock.”
He said that, as a YouthRock rookie, he felt a lot of pressure but the presence of his equally talented cousin, front man Micah Papalii-Talanai, made the entire process easier to handle.
Lucas Tekii, one the band’s guitarists, saw the victory as “hard work finally paying off”.
Papalii-Talanai admitted that the win meant so much to the Punchbowl community that it moved him to “tears.”
Asked about their future, Eliata Ulutui is confident that this is only “the beginning” for the band. Theodore Crysma Tavete exuded the same positive attitude, adding the victory brought the group “closer together”.
The boys have nothing but praise for Mr White. As Yoosuf Mohamed summed it up, “(they) could not have done it without him.”
The band’s name pays homage to Mr White’s room number at Punchbowl Boys’ High School.
The boys outperformed bands from across NSW.
Their winnings include $2000 worth of musical instruments, a professional photo shoot, legal advice and recording time.