"At Queen Margaret College, we nurture growth within a culture of unity and sisterhood. With our learners at the heart of every decision, we cultivate a holistic environment where questioning, collaboration and participation are encouraged. Our school is small enough for every student to feel known and valued, yet large enough to offer world-class academic pathways, alongside vibrant sporting and cultural opportunities. Our dynamic learning environment empowers our students to become passionate learners, resilient wāhine, and future leaders." - Principal Jayne-Ann Young

What happens when an all-women vocal trio, a bold female director, and the QMC community unite?

“What Happens When a Woman?’ is an empowering song by Alexandra Olsavsky, arranged by U.S. female trio Artemisia (Diana Lawrence, Alexandra Olsavsky, and Kaitlin Foley).
Voces Luces, our premier choir, and Director of Choirs Mark Stamper collaborated with the artists to perform a special arrangement for Queen Margaret College. Renowned Aotearoa filmmaker Charlotte Evans directed and edited a series of music videos featuring over 79 QMC students, bringing the song to life in bold, unexpected ways. The result? A celebration of voice, vision and the strength of women rising, together.

These videos bring to life the essence of our community and the limitless potential of every QMC student.

A message from composers and arrangers Artemisia Trio: 

“We are incredibly honoured for our song to have been chosen by Queen Margaret College. This song is composed of questions about female identify and female empowerment, questions that are very important to the three of us. We have worked together for many years asking these questions about what it means to be women who decide where our lives go, who get to decide who we are and what we stand for. And we put all of that into this song. We’ve been honoured to have lots of different women and girls sing it. This is the first time we have a full school say, ‘This is ours’. We're so excited!” - Diana Lawrence of Artemisia Trio

A message from director and editor Charlotte Evans: 

“As soon as I heard What Happens, I could immediately see the film in my head - something choreographed, visually striking, and full of emotion. The song carries this quiet strength, and it felt like the perfect foundation for a piece that could celebrate creativity, diversity, and girl power in a way we don’t often see in school films. In a world where girls are still too often underestimated, what could be more important than reminding them of their strength, their uniqueness, and the possibilities that lie ahead? To show them the power of their own voice - and the power of standing together.

What I loved most about this project was watching how each girl brought her own energy to the performance. Their individuality really shines through, but so does their sense of sisterhood. That collective spirit of uplifting one another is what makes this film, and this school, so special. It was such a joy to work on something that felt so fresh and unexpected.”

Check out the behind-the-scenes!

Enjoy this look behind-the-scenes of the making of What Happens When She Wears The Crown! With 93 QMC students and staff involved in the making (including 9 alumni), an amazing recording session with our premier choir Luces Voces and Director of Choirs Mark Stamper at Massey University, and an action-packed shoot day at QMC - this was an incredible experience. Many thanks to everyone involved!

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