Co-curricular Arts News

Big Band 1 Performs at Brisbane Youth Jazz Festival

Marist College Ashgrove Big Band 1 recently performed at the Brisbane Youth Jazz Festival, held at St Peters Lutheran College. The festival was presented over several nights and featured many of the best youth big bands from across South East Queensland, providing a wonderful opportunity for students to perform, hear other outstanding ensembles and celebrate jazz in a supportive, non-competitive environment. 

The band delivered a program featuring music by Count Basie, Buddy Rich and Thad Jones, performing with energy, confidence and a consistently high standard throughout the set. The performance also featured outstanding solos from Hayden Gane, Thomas Lynn, Jordan Baxter, Luke Dwyer, Harrison Hind, Andrew Boys and Julian Lewis, highlighting the depth of talent within the ensemble.

Congratulations to all the boys on a fantastic performance and for representing Marist College Ashgrove so well. Many thanks to Dr Andrew Butt for his fantastic work directing the students. 

Rockin' The Suburbs Wrap Up

On Friday 31 July, Marist College Ashgrove Year 10 band Copacetic (Andrew Boys, Hudson Melrose ,Thomas Ryan and Will Thomas) performed at Rockin' the Suburbs #4. This community event, led by Mt Maria College continues to provide an outstanding platform for emerging local bands to perform in supportive, all ages environment at Gaythorne Bowls Club. 

Congratulations to the members of Copacetic on a fantastic performance and for representing the College so proudly, alongside talented groups from Mt Maria College, Hillbrook Anglican School and Craigslea State High School. Copacetic, along with a number of other College bands involving students from Years 6-12 will be performing at the 2026 Battle of the Bands, directly after the College Walkathon at John Eales Grandstand. We encourage all members of the College community to stay on for a morning of great music, which has launched the careers of ARIA-award-winning Old Boys! 

Grade 5 Band and Strings Concert

Last Thursday evening, our Grade 5 Band and Strings Concert provided a wonderful opportunity for the boys to showcase the skills and musical knowledge they have developed so far this year. For many students, this was their debut performance on their instrument, making the occasion an especially significant milestone in their musical journey.

The concert was a celebration of the boys' hard work, dedication, and growing confidence, and it was a pleasure to share their achievements with family and friends. We are incredibly proud of all the performers and congratulate them on their efforts and enthusiasm.

A sincere thank you to Dr Jamie Kennedy, Ms Catherine Wasserman, Ms Janelle Lee Long, Mr Zac Moynihan, Mr Samuel Vincent, and Mr Matthew Sorensen for their commitment, guidance, and hard work in preparing the students. We also extend our thanks to Mr Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh and Ms Jennifer Little for their valuable assistance on the night.

Well done to all involved on a fantastic evening of music-making and celebration.

Battle of The Bands This Sunday!

For decades, Battle of the Bands has provided a stage for talented young musicians to perform, collaborate, and showcase their creativity. It is an event steeped in MCA folklore, with a proud history of launching bands and musicians who have gone on to achieve remarkable success in the Australian music industry, including winners of Q Music Awards and ARIA Awards. The event continues to celebrate the rich musical culture of the College while providing today's students with the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of those who came before them.

After completing the Walkathon, families are encouraged to stay, grab a drink and a snack from the canteen, and enjoy a fantastic day of live music performed by some of our most talented student bands. Whether you're supporting a performer or simply looking to enjoy great entertainment and community spirit, Battle of the Bands promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend.

Sunday | From 10:00am | McMahon Oval

We look forward to seeing you there as the next generation of MCA musical talent takes the stage!

Semester 2 Arts Calendar Now Available

The Semester 2 Concert Calendar has now been published. We encourage all students and families to carefully note the many performance opportunities and events scheduled for the remainder of the year and add key dates to your calendars.

A major event coming up next week is the Queensland Catholic Colleges Music Festival (QCMF), running from 13-16 August. Marist College Ashgrove will be proudly represented by Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra 1, Performance Choir, Big Band 1, Chamber Choir, Percussion Ensemble 1 and Guitar Orchestra 1.

Families of participating students are asked to please refer to the detailed information letter distributed last week for important event and attendance information. We wish all performers the very best as they prepare for this outstanding festival of music.