They may be young, but they know how to rock – so much so that Mount Maunganui Intermediate School band ‘JYK' has won the school its first-ever placing in Rockshop Bandquest.

You Just Know, aka YJK, won third place in the Bay of Plenty regional final at Baycourt Addison Theatre last night.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate band 'YJK' guitarist Kaia Dorr. Photos: Alex Hargreaves.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate School music teacher Christine Pearce says the students had an awesome night.

'Three of our bands entered the regional Bandquest competition and one of our bands won our first ever placing,” explains Christine.

'YJK rocked the stage with Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer and Counting Stars by One Republic.”

The band has won the school $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school's musical department.

'Thanks to the Rockshop for putting on such a professional and amazing gig for the students,” adds Christine.

The young rockers were entertained by Mount Maunganui College band and special guests ‘Joe's Van', who are the BOP winners of the Smokefreerockquest.

'The children just loved them – they're so good,” says Christine.

Taupo's Hilltop School band ‘Generation Z' claimed first place, winning $400 credit with The Rockshop for their school.

Second place, winning $200 credit with The Rockshop, was Otumoetai Intermediate band ‘Atlas'.

The Musicianship Award was won by Atlas' keyboard and vocals Emily Ardern from Otumoetai Intermediate.

The Rock-solid Bassist Award was given to Kaira Newton from Greerton Village School band ‘GreVous'.

The Rocking Drummer Award went to Jonny Surry from Omokoroa No.1 School band ‘Sonic Sound'.

YJK band members Joe Spiers, Noah Loye, Josh Henderson, Cade Churchward, Kaia Dorr, Jade Sullivan and Mabel Affleck.

Now in its fifth year, the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students attracted 14 keen young bands at Baycourt Theatre on Tuesday night.

The competition is for bands of two or more members, from intermediate or primary schools, who play a short set of covers or original songs, with a focus on performance skills.

Event coordinator Matt Ealand says this age group is increasingly sophisticated and self-motivated.

'Rather than just forming a band in their music class, they're getting together with like-minded friends,” says Matt.

'They're practicing outside of school time, using technology to record or promote themselves and showing a real awareness of what it takes to make it in the music industry.”

Rockshop spokesman Hamish Jackson says for most of the entrants, Rockshop Bandquest is the biggest musical moment of their lives.

'Being part of that is great for us,” says Hamish. 'Bandquest provides intermediate children with a platform for live performance.

'It's all about participation and giving it a go. The children throw themselves into it and the results are pretty astounding.”

This year, more than 170 bands have entered Rockshop Bandquest, competing in Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Tauranga, Napier, Hamilton and Auckland, with mentoring sessions from successful Smokefreerockquest bands in the afternoon of each regional event, and online entries for bands in outlying areas.

There will be an online national final announcement on Wednesday, September 24, via: bandquest.co.nz

The 2015 Rockshop Bandquest BOP regional final results are:

First place winning $400 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Generation Z, Hilltop School

Second place winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Atlas, Otumoetai Intermediate

Third place winning $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school: JYK, Mount Maunganui Intermediate

Best original song winning $100 cash for their school: Feedback, Kaitao Middle School for ‘Rescue Me'

Best original lyrics winning $50 cash for their school: Feedback, Kaitao Middle School for ‘Rescue Me'

Best female vocalist: shared by Kat Ayers, Zephaniah Reihana and Waiari Kohu-Matika from Atlas, Otumoetai Intermediate

Best male vocalist: Cole Scott, lead singer from Generation Z, Hilltop School

Musicianship Award: Emily Ardern, keyboard and vocals from Atlas, Otumoetai Intermediate

Rockstar Styles award: Caleb Leighton of Band, keyboard, Feedback, Kaitao Middle School

‘Killer' guitarist award: Oliver Hawes, Sterrenual, Matamata Intermediate

Rock-solid bassist award: Kaira Newton, GreVous, Greerton Village School

Rocking drummer award: Jonny Surry, Sonic Sound, Omokoroa No. 1 School

Best keyboardist award: Jolie Scott, Generation Z, Hilltop School