Mount Maunganui College students are heading into the school holidays as third place winners of the ASB 2014 Stage Challenge and J Rock competition.

Mount Maunganui College placed third in the ASB 2014 Stage Challenge and J Rock competition. Photo: supplied.

A total of 12 schools took to the stage on Friday for night four of the competition at Auckland's ASB Theatre for the 22^nd annual competition.

Defending champions MMC claimed third place in the Open Division for its performance ‘Deaf Defying Beethoven' – a presentation describing the life journey of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

'Despite frustration, anger, and social isolation, the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven defied his difficulties,” the school says in a description of the piece.

'Using conversation books, helped by patrons, friends and lovers, Beethoven used his other senses and faculties to accept deafness and eventually create his greatest work, 'The Ninth Symphony'.”

MMC was also awarded the ASB Community Trust Award of Excellence for Stage Use, Southern Trust Award of Excellence for Drama, North and South Award of Excellence for Set, Design and Function, Canon Award of Excellence for Visual Enhancement, and 5 + A Day Award of Excellence for Stage Crew.

MMC students dressed as Beethoven and Josephine. Photo: supplied.

The college took out the 2013 competition with its performance titled ‘Too Bee or Not to Bee' – a theme exploring the loss of honey bees in the urban environment.

Auckland's St Cuthbert's College took out first place in the competition with its performance titled ‘Are You Game?'

Mahurangi College was awarded second place with its piece ‘Not My Crime, Still My Sentence'.

Event manager Sarah-Jane Phillips says St Cuthbert's College's performance was spectacular.

'I couldn't take my eyes off the stage – it had fantastic different elements that made for a great Stage Challenge performance.”

Sarah says Auckland put on a fantastic show and she was blown away by all the students' talent and hard work.

'Friday night's performances reflect how Stage Challenge and J Rock are great outlets for youth to creatively express themselves and their values.”

Design judge Trish Peng says the main board game was so clever and the costumes were fantastic.

'Elephants and giraffes on stilts? Amazing. You are so creative St Cuthbert's; it was such an enjoyable performance with a great concept.”

The ASB 2014 Stage Challenge is proud to support New Zealand students to be 100 per cent drug, alcohol and tobacco free.

St Cuthbert's College are the winners of the ASB 2014 Stage Challenge competition. Photo: Quikpix.