Music

We have some significant news about the Music Program in 2025.

Reduced fees in 2025

We are very pleased to announce a restructure in Specialist Music fees in 2025. Two major changes/reductions:

• For 2025 there will no instrument hire fee for students who take lessons and play in ensembles.
• Fees will be reduced to $200 per term. High quality music programs are rarely available for such reasonable rates.  Next year most beginners will take lessons in small groups. This has allowed us to reduce our fees across the board.

If the cost of music lessons has been an issue in the past, we hope this helps.    

The Specialist Music Handbook will be published soon. Information will also appear on the school website. In the meantime, for further details please email Head of Music Faculty, Mr Matthew Pankhurst mpankhurst@stpats.vic.edu.au

Renaming – Specialist Music

From this point onwards our co-curricular and extension music activities will fall under the title of Specialist Music. There are some changes apart from the title, but we hope the change in name shows a clear difference to our Year 7 and 8 classroom music program.

What Specialist Music includes:

Instrumental Music Lesson – a wide range on instruments are on offer.

Ensembles – Concert Band, Choir, Guitar Ensembles, Stage Band, Contemporary Bands

Workshops, Excursions, Festival Performances, Tours

ACCent on Music 2025 – Hamer Hall!

2025 will be a mammoth year, but one music event really stands out. We will be combining with other ACC school to present a concert in Hamer Hall – that is the huge 2600 seat concert hall on the Yarra – the home of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Many of our Specialist Music Students will be involved. What an amazing opportunity!  

An Impressive ‘Finale’ for 2024 Music

The last few weeks have been full of joy in the Music Faculty. It just goes to show how generous our boys are with their time and skills!

Great work Noah and Symphonic Winds

Once again, we were privileged to hear Year 9 student Noah Vallance sound the Last Post and Rouse at the College Remembrance Day service on Monday, 11 September. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble also played Abide With Me, one of the traditional hymns often played to commemorate the fallen. Some great community service from our musicians. 

Thank You Riley

Just a week later the College hosted the finals of the Legacy National Public Speaking Awards. One of the many enjoyable aspects of the day were performances by Piano Soloist Riley Hayes. Riley’s program brought an air of class to proceedings and the organisers and audience were all very grateful. Thanks for your generosity, Riley.  

Stars on the “Rise”

On Thursday, 14 November, some stars were born! The new St Patrick’s College Ballarat Rising Stars Concert Band took to the stage at the Victorian School Music Festival. Most of the players in this ensemble had been playing for less than ten weeks and considering their experience and level, they sounded terrific. They played a highly engaging program of works: Premiere Fanfare, Beethoven’s 9th and Power Rock – the last work is a mash up of We Will Rock You and Another One Bites the Dust. The audience couldn’t help but stamp their feet and clap along!

Internationally recognised clinician Professor Jaclyn Hartenberger then worked with the band on stage, recommended next steps on their band journey. Dr Hartenberger was very complimentary and despite the limited experience of the group, she rated them an “Excellent” beginner band – this second highest rating. This is very fitting for all the hard work that the young men had put in.

Rising Stars continued in the same vein with their second ever performance at the 2025 Year 7 Orientation Day, they enthused and excited the incoming Year 7s with a repeat of their program and demonstrations of their instruments.

From The Young to the “Older”

Another great act of volunteering was seen from our Year 12 music students. Of their own volition the Falling Stars Band, our contemporary jazz, funk and fusion group entertained everyone thoroughly prior to the Valedictory Dinner. The group, which comprised entirely of Year 12 students, took the lead with this performance. They contacted the organisers, rehearsed a selection of songs, moved equipment and finally, played very well for all of the guests!

It set a joyous scene for the night and added to the celebration of everything that is and was the Year 12 Class of 2024. Congratulations and thank you to Lachy Hodge, Jacob van Raaphorst, Charlie Richardson, Oscar Folkes, Jack Williamson, Ben Nixon and Joe Elliot.

One More “Gig”, Speech Night

On Monday night our bands will close out the year by supporting the College at the newly refreshed Speech Night. Our bands and soloists will welcome the official party, lead the national anthem and entertain between the speeches and awards. Many thanks to our VCE Ensemble, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Stage Band, Lachlan Hodge and Oscar Folkes for performing – I’m sure their performances will add a unique character to the festivities of the night.