HBHS aims to give students access to a wide range of cultural activities and sports alongside a quality academic education.

The Music Department is a critical part of the school’s culture, providing musical development to the students through weekly lessons, music classes, group rehearsal and assembly singing. Each year a School Prefect assumes responsibility for the promotion of music and performing arts in the school, and also helps staff with the organisation of events within the Music Department.

HBHS has a large music department which employs three classroom teachers and eight itinerant music teachers. Free lessons are available to students, and presently many are taking up the opportunity to learn Wind, Brass, Guitar, Bass, Bagpipes, Strings, Voice and Percussion. Groups in the Music Department that offer performance opportunities include a Jazz Band, School Orchestra, Pipe Band, several small chamber groups, the Gypsy Pickers (Latin and Flamenco Guitar), Barbershop Quartet, Choir and a large number of rock bands which compete in the Rock Quest. 

The Music Department has, for the past two decades, organised an international music tour once every two years, visiting countries including Vanuatu, Noumea, Fiji, Samoa, Australia, Rarotonga, New Caledonia and
Hawaii. Each year the school performs a week-long production with Hamilton Girls’ High School, the responsibility for the production and the hosting of the production alternates yearly between the schools. The most recent productions run by HBHS have been Jesus Christ Superstar, Dracula and War of the Worlds.

HBHS is fortunate to have performance workshops with specialist visiting
lecturers and clinicians, allowing students to further develop their skills under the tutelage of experienced and renowned local and international musicians.