Co-curricular

Choir Life at the College

After more than a year of ‘Zoom’ rehearsals and almost no opportunities for ‘live’ performance, the choristers of St Patrick’s College have returned to the stage and the choir loft in 2022 to entertain and give inspiration to audiences and congregations in what is ultimately an artistic ‘team’ activity.

The boys have enthusiastically embraced the challenges of choral singing this year with an outstanding performance at the Opening Mass which showcased the loyalty, determination, and skill of these fine boys. This was quickly followed by enhancing the liturgy at Friday Morning Mass and most recently giving the lead at the Year 5 Welcome Mass which was held last Friday evening. At these, and most other musical events, they are accompanied by the College’s Organ Scholar, Bailey Yeates (Year 11), who displayed consummate skill at the Organ and Choral Festival held in June 2021 to bless the newly installed College Chapel organ. On Sunday evening, Bailey showed his ecumenical depth as he accompanied the choir of St Paul’s Burwood at their Evensong service and gained the high praise of the former long-time chief organist of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, and a number of the other noted organists who also attended the beautiful liturgy.

Essentially, Choir is a lot of fun with a myriad of performance opportunities to come - Mother’s and Father’s Day Masses, the Performing Arts Showcase, the Carols Service and Speech Night, together with regular contributions to College Assemblies and Friday morning Mass. The Choir is still very much interested in, and welcomes, hearing new voices from Year 5 to Year 12. As St Augustine reportedly said “the one who sings prays twice”. Choir is a unique co-curricular activity in that it meaningfully contributes to both liturgical/faith and performance life of the College.  Join the choir and consider ‘praying twice’!

Giselle Grape

Choir Director

Public Speaking

Last Friday students from Years 7 – 12 competed in the first round of the Catholic Schools' Debating Association's (CSDA) Public Speaking competition. Each student selected a topic and prepared an interesting speech to deliver with interpretations of the topics ranging from Cancel Culture to Climate Change. From 12 students who participated on the night, six students have progressed to the Zone Final which will take place this week. These students are Christopher Mok (Year 8), Denzel Tan (Year 8), Arthur Haddad (Year 9), Dominic Short (Year 9),  Jeremy Simonetto (Year 10) and Oliver Melecca (Year 12). I commend all the students who participated in the competition and wish those students speaking this week the very best of luck.

Jessica Burgess

Acting MIC of Public Speaking & Debating