Percussionist Cameron Smillie, a year 12 student at Burnside High School, has had an interest in music from a young age, and plays a variety of instruments, including percussion, timpani, drumset, and violin.

Highlights of Cameron’s musical career include his previous position as Head of Percussion at Cathedral Grammar School, and current positions as Head of Percussion at Burnside High School and Principal Percussion of New Zealand Secondary School’s Symphony Orchestra.

Cameron has also played in a variety of other ensembles including Garden City Big Band, Christchurch Youth Orchestra, Burnside High School Orchestra, Burnside High School Big Band, Burnside High School Symphonic Band, and Mr Petch Reunion Big Band.

He recently received a Grade 8 Trinity Distinction for Drumset and won the top combo for Burnside High School’s Jazz Specialist Music Programme.

Cameron is a Percussion Assistant for Christchurch School of Music Orchestra, and a tutor at Christchurch School's Music Festival.

In 2024, Cameron was selected as a 2024 CSO Ireland’s Intern, and will receive lessons from CSO musicians, as well as two opportunities to be involved in CSO activities, including assisting with CSO’s Percussion Workshop in June, and performing on stage with CSO at CSO and Rova Present: Last Night of the Proms in November at Christchurch Town Hall.

Cameron is very interested in mentoring young musicians, and hopes to pursue a career in music, however that may look.