MUSIC

News from Cherie Spannenburg

Head of Music

Instrumental music

Combined Saints Colleges ensembles are in music camp this weekend with clinician Craig Kennedy from St Rita’s College Brisbane. Students will be rehearsing, workshopping, team building and generally having fun together for the whole weekend. There is a concert at the end of the camp in Lennon Hall at 2pm on Sunday 2 March for all friends and family to see what the groups have achieved in their short time together so far.

 

Friday evening social

Last Friday evening, two of our guitarists – Miles Foran and Benjamin Johnson – entertained parents at the new parents social in Lennon Hall. The boys did a wonderful job of providing background music for the event.

 

Uniform change

We are slightly altering the uniform this year. Rather than continuing to use various bow ties and the vests to differentiate the groups, we are designing a college music tie. This tie will be worn with our concert blacks no matter what group students are in. We feel this will be easier when changing groups and will identify our musicians within the College just as well as the current uniforms. The tie will be available at the Saints Shop.

 

There has been discussion about making the concert blacks part of the College uniform with the logo embroidered on them, but given the rate at which teenage boys grow and the cost of such uniforms we feel it’s more affordable for our families to just go with the tie.

 

We’re looking forward to revealing the new design early next term.

 

Friends of the Arts

For all our new families, we have a group, Friends of the Arts, where parents are contacted when we need help with the logistics or organisation of events. For example, we might need a couple of parents at the door for a concert to collect gold coin donations or sell raffle tickets for fundraising. If you are interested in being on that email list and have a little time to help us out occasionally, we’d love to hear from you. Please email me at cspannenbu@cns.catholic.edu.au and let me know you’re keen to help. 

 

2025

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

 

Information about events and performances is on the Arts Department Facebook page. There is also 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 1

DateEventWhereGroup

Week 5

28 Feb – 2 Mar 

Instrumental Music (IM) CampMusic Block and Lennon HallCSC Wind Ensemble, CSC Concert Band, CSC String Orchestra

Week 8

Thurs 20 Mar

College AssemblyLennon HallSaints Guitar Ensemble

Week 10

Thurs 3 Apr

Easter LiturgyLennon HallCantors and Mass musicians

 

Term 2

DateEventWhereGroup

Week 1

Thurs 24 Apr

Fri 25 Apr

Anzac Assembly

Anzac Dawn Service

Lennon Hall

Cairns RSL

Saints Big Band

College Choir

Week 3

Thurs 8 May

Mother’s Day AssemblyLennon HallTBA

Week 4

15 & 16 May

Primary Schools TourVarious schoolsCast and musicians

Week 5

23-25 May

Choir CampSt Monica’s CollegeSaints Choir

Week 6

Tues 27 May

Saints Unplugged JuniorL105Assorted soloists
Thurs 29 MaySaints Unplugged SeniorL105Assorted soloists
31 May–1 JuneCQU Jammin’Saints Music BlockJazz and contemporary musicians

Week 7

Fri 6 June

Champagnat MassLennon HallCantors and Mass musicians

Week 10

16–19 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 AssemblyLennon HallTBA

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 Rock Band

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 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