MUSIC
News from Cherie Spannenburg
Head of Music
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.
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
Date | Event | Where | Group |
Week 9 Fri 20 June | Parents In Touch Dr Anita Collins | Lennon Hall | All diocesan music parents |
Week 10 16-17 June | Cairns & District Junior Eisteddfod | CPAC | CSC Wind Ensemble Saints Percussion Ensemble Saints Choir CSC String Ensemble Saints Big Band |
Term 3
Date | Event | Where | Group |
Week 1 Thurs 17 July | Academic Assembly | Lennon Hall
| TBA |
Cairns Show Performance | Cairns Show | Saints Big Band | |
Week 3 Thurs 31 July | NAIDOC Assembly | Lennon Hall | TBA |
Week 5 Thurs 14 Aug | Assumption Mass | St Monica’s Cathedral | Cantors |
Week 5 14-17 Aug | QCMF | Villanova College Brisbane | Saints Big Band, Saints Percussion Ensemble, Saints Choir, Saints Guitar Ensemble |
Week 7 Tues 26 Aug | Cerise & Blue Open Evening | Saints | All ensembles |
Week 8 Thurs 4 Sept | Father’s Day Assembly | Lennon Hall | TBA |
Fri 5 Sept | Primary IM Workshops | Lennon Hall and Music Block | CSC Concert Band + primary schools |
Week 9 Wed 10 Sept | Ensemble photos | Lennon Hall | All ensembles, musical cast, orchestra and crew |
Thurs 11 Sept | Saints Unplugged Senior | L105 | Assorted soloists |
Term 4
Date | Event | Where | Group |
Week 1 7-8 Oct | Recording ensembles with CQU | Saints Music Block | All combined ensembles |
Week 3 Thurs 23 Oct | Valedictory Mass & Assembly | Lennon Hall | Cantors, Mass musicians, senior music class |
Week 4 Thurs 30 Oct | Tom Thumb Incursion | St Joseph’s Hall | Year 7 plus 8, 9, 10 and 11 Music classes |
Week 6 Tues 13 Nov | Saints Unplugged Junior | L105 | Assorted soloists |
Week 7 Friday 21 Nov | Annual Awards Evening | Lennon Hall | Saints Percussion Ensemble Saints Choir Saints Big Band |
Week 8 Fri 28 Nov | Advent Liturgy | Lennon Hall | Cantors and Mass musicians |