Top Class Music and Sound Excursion
Top Class Music and Sound represents the highest standard of achievement in VCE Music and VCE VET Music. It showcases 28 outstanding students from the previous year, each selected through a rigorous audition process after achieving top performance examination results, offering a clear benchmark of excellence in both technical control and musical intention.
On 31 March, 22 VCE Music students and selected instrumental students from Taylors Lakes Secondary College attended the concert at Elisabeth Murdoch Hall Melbourne Recital Centre. Across 12 performances, students presented on guitar, piano, drumkit, voice, bass guitar and tabla, spanning Contemporary Performance, VET Music Performance and Composition.
The performances demonstrated strong stagecraft, refined ensemble interaction, and thoughtful manipulation of tone colour and texture, including reimagined interpretations of familiar works.
Particularly notable were performances from schools such as Lakeview Senior College, showing that this level of achievement is within reach for students in local context.
The impact on TLSC students was immediate. Several VCE Music students expressed a clear aspiration to be on that same stage in the future, recognising the level of artistry and intent required to reach this standard.
Importantly, this pathway is already taking shape.
On the very same stage at the Melbourne Recital Centre, one of the TLSC students will be performing in April after being selected for the AMEB Sound Insights program following outstanding examination results.
This represents a significant milestone and reflects the continued growth and strength of TLSC performing arts program.
Looking ahead, students will continue to engage with live performance experiences, including the International Jazz Day concert at Hanson Dyer Hall early Term 2, supporting Outcome 2: Creating through exposure to improvisation, as well as the MSO-funded Open Rehearsal at Hamer Hall in Term 4.
These opportunities remain essential in developing students’ musical understanding, artistic intention, and performance confidence.
We would also like to thank Mr Zhao for supervising and accompanying students on this excursion, Ms De La Fuente and Ms Massarotto for pushing this through and Mr Dedes in enabling this opportunity.
The students are sincerely grateful for the experience.
Tracy Lee (on behalf of the music team)