Principal's Message

Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival

The annual Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival (CSPAF) was officially launched earlier this term with the Opening Celebration and Mass being held at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Our College was wonderfully represented by Year 12 Music students, Isaac Adamos and Caleb Hu, who accompanied me to the opening liturgy. The CSPAF is celebrating its 35th year. There will be over 20,000 participants, representing over 100 primary and secondary Catholic schools from around the state, participating in all manner of performances and displays over the next few weeks. 

The Festival has now commenced and many of our own talented boys from across the College have begun their respective performances. Some of our boys perform as individuals and others are part of respective ensemble groups, bands or choirs. While it is difficult to see many of our individual students perform, I do have the pleasure of seeing many of our large group performances. On Wednesday of last week, I was able to see some of our Brass Instrumental Ensemble groups perform and then on Thursday evening, our Senior Chorale and Vocal Ensemble groups performed as part of the Secondary Sacred Choral Music section. The boys performed magnificently and certainly impressed the large audience gathered in the Cathedral. This week, I was able to see our TC String Ensemble perform as part of the festival.

Next Wednesday evening, I will get the opportunity to watch our Swing Bands perform at La Salle College in Midland, and the following week I will enjoy the chance to see a large number of our students display their work as part of the Angelico Exhibition for Visual Arts. This fantastic exhibition will culminate in the Awards Presentation Evening that is scheduled to occur on 14 August. Following these performances, Trinity College will host a variety of schools as part of the Chorale section with our own College vocal groups performing here on 30 August. Given the wonderful success of our Senior Chorale Group at the recent World Choir Games in Auckland, we are looking forward to them performing in the familiar surrounds of Gibney Hall.

All of the boys involved in the Arts have worked very hard for several months and they have certainly learned the valuable lesson that hard work and commitment brings great reward. They are wonderful ambassadors for our College. They have done themselves proud and should be justifiably excited at such opportunities to perform. I commend the many students who involve themselves so enthusiastically in the Arts and wish them well throughout this Festival. May I also acknowledge the extraordinary work of the Staff and Tutors in the areas of Music, Drama, Dance and Art. Under the direction of Dr Robert Braham, the boys are given wonderful opportunities and encouragement to perform. Such dedication to our talented young men is well recognised and certainly appreciated.

Live Jesus in our hearts.

Mr Darren O’Neill

Principal