Dux Artiums Faolan Okan and Lara Chuo
The wealth of talent in Performing Arts, Visual Art and Media Studies was recognised and celebrated at the Arts Award Dinner held at Sorrento in the Park on November 6.
For the second year running, Faolan Okan was named Boys Dux Artium while Lara Chuo picked up the equivalent Girls award.
Faolan, an Arts Prefect, is a student of Dance, Drama and Media Studies who has 24 credits at Excellence already in Arts subject in 2020. He also won Best Male Actor, Best Filmmaker and the Leadership in Dance Award at this year’s dinner. He was Junior Dux Artium in 2017, and his extra-curricular activities include being part of the World Hip Hop Champion dance crew the Swagganauts and recently having a lead role in a NZ short film.
Lara is a student of Dance, Drama, Media Studies and Painting, who has 28 credits at Excellence in Arts subjects in 2020. She also won Best Female Actor, Best Female Dance Performer and the Excellence in Arts Management award at the dinner.
She is a member of MAGS’ NZ champion Hip Hop Megacrew, and was chosen for the National Shakespeare Schools Production for her performance in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competition.
Lara is the Head Arts Prefect, Leader and Choreographer for the Chinese dance group, and was Junior Dux Artium in 2017.
MCs for the night Abby Irwin and David Laxon welcomed guests and introduced several performances: Tali Afele singing It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas backed by Eric Shen on Piano; a scene from Macbeth performed by Molly Cavanagh, Lara Chuo and Sarah Norman; and a song performed by Tali Afele, Tuiaki ‘Otulau and Niua Pomare-Khanna.
You can see a full list of award winners here
