MUSIC

News from Cherie Spannenburg

Head of Music

Parent Presentation

On Friday 20 June, our parents have the special opportunity to attend a session with Dr Anita Collins. Anita has a unique skill in translating complex research findings into everyday language for the teacher, parent and student. Her influence was pivotal in the Music Education: A Sound Investmentreport, advocating for long-term improvement in Australian music education. She was directly responsible for a well-known TED Ed short film titledHow Playing an Instrument Benefits your Brain and a TEDx talk What If Every Child Had Access to Music Education from Birth? as well as the TV documentary series called Don’t Stop the Music.  You can read more about her work here.

 

Dr Collins is a warm and vibrant speaker who is engaging and entertaining. We are so very lucky to have this session with her. Please come along and join us for an interesting evening from 5–6pm in Lennon Hall. There will be lucky door prizes.

 

Cairns Eisteddfod

A reminder that our CSC Wind Ensemble & Concert Band as well as Saints Saxes, Percussion Ensemble and Big Band will be performing at the Cairns Eisteddfod on Monday 23 June at CPAC. Saints Choir will be performing there on Tuesday 24 June. The date in the parent slip was incorrect, and a subsequent broadcast was sent correcting it. Please ensure your sons have their concert blacks and the new Saints music tie for their performances. Click here to buy tickets.

 

Monday 23 June

Afternoon session 1:30pm – Saints Saxes, Saints Percussion Ensemble

Evening session 7pm – CSC Wind Ensemble, CSC Concert Band, Saints Big Band

 

Tuesday 24 June

Afternoon session 1:30pm – Saints Choir

Evening session 7pm – Saints Choir

 

QREP

The Queensland Regional Ensemble Program (QREP) FNQ in partnership with CQ University was run on the weekend of 31 May. Students came from all around the region – Innisfail, Mareeba and Mossman as well as Cairns. Upon arriving, they were placed in bands with students they'd never met before and worked with the lecturers from the CQ Conservatorium of Music and the 1RAR Band from Townsville. 

 

Each group learned 2–4 songs, took part in elective activities such as learning improvisation or electronic music composition, and listened to careers talks and to the army band perform. A huge thank you to the music teachers who helped us out during the weekend, and most especially the staff from CQ University and the RAR Band.

 

 

Congratulations

Congratulations to Elliot Kendall and Oliver Alden who have been selected to participate in the State Honours Ensemble Program at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane in October. Nearly 700 students from around the state auditioned for a place in SHEP, so this is an outstanding achievement. Well done, Elliot and Oliver.

 

Elliot Kendall
Oliver Alden
Elliot Kendall
Oliver Alden

 

2025

Our program is busy and vibrant with many opportunities for performances. We entertain at assemblies, perform in productions and at music nights as well as provide liturgical music for the College. There are plenty of performance opportunities for our students.

 

Information for events and performances can be found on the Arts Department Facebook page. There is information in the newsletter and parent slips are sent out. Below is a calendar of events planned so far. This will be added to during the year, so please reread it each edition to check that you are abreast of all that his happening and make sure you put these dates in your diary.

 

Term 2

DateEventWhereGroup

Week 9

Fri 20 June

Parents In Touch

Dr Anita Collins

Lennon HallAll diocesan music parents

Week 10

16-17 June

Cairns & District Junior EisteddfodCPAC

CSC Wind Ensemble Saints Percussion Ensemble

Saints Choir

CSC String Ensemble

Saints Big Band

 

Term 3

DateEventWhereGroup

Week 1

Thurs 17 July

Academic Assembly

Lennon Hall

 

 

TBA
 Cairns Show PerformanceCairns ShowSaints Big Band

Week 3

Thurs 31 July

NAIDOC AssemblyLennon HallTBA

Week 5

Thurs 14 Aug

Assumption MassSt Monica’s CathedralCantors

Week 5

14-17 Aug

QCMF Villanova College BrisbaneSaints Big Band, Saints Percussion Ensemble, Saints Choir, Saints Guitar Ensemble

Week 7

Tues 26 Aug

Cerise & Blue Open EveningSaintsAll ensembles

Week 8

Thurs 4 Sept

Father’s Day AssemblyLennon HallTBA
Fri 5 SeptPrimary IM WorkshopsLennon Hall and Music BlockCSC Concert Band + primary schools

Week 9

Wed 10 Sept

Ensemble photosLennon HallAll ensembles, musical cast, orchestra and crew
Thurs 11 SeptSaints Unplugged SeniorL105Assorted soloists

 

Term 4

DateEventWhereGroup

Week 1

7-8 Oct

Recording ensembles with CQUSaints Music BlockAll combined ensembles

Week 3

Thurs 23 Oct

Valedictory Mass & AssemblyLennon HallCantors, Mass musicians, senior music class

Week 4

Thurs 30 Oct

Tom Thumb IncursionSt Joseph’s HallYear 7 plus 8, 9, 10 and 11 Music classes

Week 6

Tues 13 Nov

Saints Unplugged JuniorL105Assorted soloists

Week 7

Friday 21 Nov

Annual Awards EveningLennon Hall

Saints Percussion Ensemble

Saints Choir

Saints Big Band

Week 8

Fri 28 Nov

Advent LiturgyLennon HallCantors and Mass musicians