Music

Wow, what an amazing 2025 we have had! The Instrumental Music team are always busy, but this year was exceptional! From excursions to performances to musical productions, the IM team catered for 150 students at various events throughout the year! 

We started with our Band Recruitment day early in the year, with our beginner students joining either the Junior Band. Piano Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble or Junior Choir. Our experienced students graduated into the Intermediate Band, Senior Band, Stage Band, Rock Band or Senior Choir. Then Term 1 really kicked off!  Lunchtime performances by our Voice students, band rehearsals, Soloist Night, ANZAC Day marching practise…the list was growing!

By Term 2, we were preparing for Music Fest, rehearsals for Shrek the Musical were underway, and band rehearsals continued. Our choir students attended SingFest, and we finished the term with a big day out in the City to enjoy a performance by the MSO. 

This year, our Instrumental Music students attended 2 BandFest events. Intermediate BandFest and Junior BandFest were both huge events, with over 100 students attending from various secondary schools. 

Term 3 was all about the swamp. Our IM and PA students were immersed in Shrek the Musical. We had students performing main roles, small parts, ensemble, backstage, hair and make-up, sound, lighting, props and of course playing in the orchestra. The musical always brings everyone together, including our community beyond the school fence. The show would not have been possible without our amazing volunteers and the 800 audience members who watched the various shows.

Our Term 4 calendar was jam-packed. It started off with the Cardinia Inter-School Battle of the Bands competition in week 1 and finished with the Primary School Tour in the final week of school. In between, we had a visit from Bairnsdale Secondary College (workshops and concert for KWRPS and KWR Hospice), the Awards night, the KWR Carols and our End of Year IM Concert.

Each of these events and our music program has played a huge role in supporting our students in ways you could not imagine, from guiding them on their journey to success to providing a safe space where students can express who they are and who they want to become.  Some of our students themselves have said: “It gives me many things to look forward to throughout the school year”, and “I don’t know where I would be without the program.”

By Hayley Milner, Year 10