Stephen Nightingale
Director of Music & Performing Arts 1981 – 2024  

Stephen Nightingale, our exceptional music and performing arts teacher, music director, mentor, performer and singer, is exiting stage left after 43 years of dedicated service to the arts at Waitākere College.

Having trained as an operatic tenor performing with Opera New Zealand for over a decade and playing the piano from the age of nine, few schools can boast having such a talented singer and musician directing their music and performing arts programmes. His retirement marks the end of an era. 

Stephen was first appointed to the Waitākere College Music Department in 1981 by our Foundation Principal, Russell Jackson. Joining forces with the then Head of Music, Malcolm Dixon, was comparable to the teaming up of Batman and Superman – Malcolm and Stephen were practically unstoppable. 

Malcolm had previously taught Stephen when he was a student at Avondale College and had also taught him the clarinet. Confident in his talent, Malcolm handed Stephen the then jewel in the crown of Waitākere College’s music programme – directing the prestigious harmony group. Just two years after Stephen took the reins, they won the final of the New Zealand Westpac Secondary School’s Choir Contest.

The harmony group became a showpiece for the college. It twice toured the South Island in the 1980s and was invited to perform at several prestigious events including the 1986 Coca-Cola centennial celebration, and subsequently appeared in a national television promotion for Coca-Cola. Under Stephen’s expert tutelage, the group toured into the 1990s, with frequent performances at the iconic Chateau Hotel in National Park. 

In the early 1990s, Stephen developed a performing arts programme that was the envy of all Central and West Auckland schools. Thirty years later, the PFA Academy continues today. Covering all aspects of music, film, dance and musical theatre, the PFA Academy develops students’ love for performance and fosters their performing arts talents. 

Stephen has been privileged to teach many fantastic musicians, performers and vocalists over his career. A few of note are Lapi Mariner (singer), Russell Dixon (musical director and performer), Wade Kernot (international opera singer) and Tueila Blakely (actor). 

Stephen has musically directed over 40 school productions with a cumulative cast of thousands. His first show was Free as Air (1981). Whilst he loved them all, other shows that Stephen has particularly fond memories of are Grease (1991 and 2012), Me and My Girl (1992), The Little Shop of Horrors (1999),  Blood Brothers (2009), Chicago (2019) and The Addams Family (2014 and 2024). 

Since its establishment in 1986, Stephen has been responsible for running the Jackson Auditorium, which has been significantly improved over the years. Thanks to Stephen’s advocacy for the arts, we now have a performance theatre with video and industry standard stage-lighting and sound mixing technology.

In 2013, Stephen was awarded the Staff Scholarship recognising his contribution to teaching, leadership and commitment to extracurricular activities. As a parting tribute, we have named the stage and inner house of the Jackson Auditorium The Stephen Nightingale Theatre. 

As the final act of Stephen’s teaching career draws to a close and he approaches the final curtain, we thank Stephen for his passion for the arts, for fostering a love of music and performance in thousands of students over the decades and for truly making a difference.