Music and Performing Arts 

African Drumming Workshop  

In Week 6 the Year 7 students participated in an African Drumming workshop presented by experts Ray Pereira and Kofi Nortey. The students had the opportunity to learn about different African drums and the special rhythms that each drum plays. Everyone had a turn playing the djembes, shakers and many more instruments, most of which were neatly stacked in Kofi’s car (see attached photo). This workshop ties into the first unit of Year 7 Music that focuses on Musical Fusion. 

On the subject of percussion instruments, Koonung’s Instrumental Music Program is very excited to welcome a brand-new Concert Bass Drum, Concert Snare Drum and Concert Crash (Monkey) Cymbals!! Just in time for the upcoming Premiere Concert, featuring the newest members of Koonung’s Music Program.

Spring Concerts 

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Spring Concerts in Week 7. Thank you to the wonderful instrumental music staff: Adrian de Luca, Cathy Narayan, Curtis Reardon, Joshua Verco, Kathryn Rogers, Lauren Innes, Rachael Kane and Yolande van Oosten.

Première Concert

Congratulations to all the musicians who performed in the Première Concert in Week 9. The Première Concert is a celebration of the achievements of our beginner instrumentalists in their first term of learning an instrument. The evening also featured many of Koonung’s Intermediate Ensembles. It’s a great way to break the ice before the upcoming Autumn Concerts (in Term 2). 

VCE Music Top Class Excursion

In Week 10 the VCE Music class (Years 11 and 12) attended Top Class at the Melbourne Recital Centre in Southbank. Top Class Music features incredible young students from across Victoria, who excelled in their VCE and VCE VET Music performance examinations and composition tasks in 2025.

Penelope Latham

Head of Music and Performing Arts