Battle of the Bands

Congratulations to all the incredibly talented 60+ music students who performed so brilliantly at the first-ever Cardinia Inter-School Battle of the Bands! Your passion, creativity, and musicianship were truly extraordinary, and the energy you brought to the stage made for an unforgettable evening. 

Huge congratulations also go to all the student comperes and performers — your commitment, teamwork, and countless hours of rehearsal shone through in every performance. You should all be incredibly proud. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our judging panel — Mayor Jack Kowarzik, Councillor Casey Thomsen, and music educator Jacqueline Rodden — for generously donating their time and expertise. With such an impressive lineup of performances, we know choosing winners was no easy task! A special thank you also goes to our event sponsors — Cardinia Cultural Centre, Cardinia Shire Council (Amplify Youth Committee), and Simple Cars Pakenham — whose support made this fantastic community event possible. 

Ensemble Winners: 

1st Place: Officer Secondary College Rock Band – Feel Good Inc. 

2nd Place: Koo Wee Rup Secondary College Senior Concert Band & Vocalists – My Shot 

3rd Place: Pakenham Secondary College Rock Band – Still Into You 

🎓🎓Best Overall School Award: 

🏅🏅Winner: Koo Wee Rup Secondary College 

🥈🥈1st Runner Up: Officer Secondary College 

🥉🥉2nd Runner Up: Pakenham Secondary College 

A heartfelt thank you to the music teachers and staff from Koo Wee Rup, Officer, and Pakenham Secondary Colleges for their incredible collaboration, leadership, and commitment in bringing this event to life. Their passion, teamwork, and dedication to their students and programs were evident in every performance, helping to make the first Cardinia Inter-School Battle of the Bands such a success. 

Sponsor Highlight: A big thank you to Jared from Simple Cars Pakenham, sponsor of the event’s cash prize. Jared would like to offer a special deal to any Year 12 students from Pakenham SC, Officer SC, or Koo Wee Rup SC who are looking to buy their first car. Mention your school to receive a full tank of petrol and an extra special deal on your purchase! What an inspiring night of music, collaboration, and community spirit. We can’t wait to see what next year’s Cardinia Inter-School Battle of the Bands will bring!