MUSIC

Music Camp

On the weekend of 28 February, the Combined College Ensembles had a music camp at Saints. Students from the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and String Orchestra rehearsed and workshopped with Clinician Craig Kennedy from Brisbane culminating in a concert on the Sunday afternoon. The students also engaged in team building activities to get to know one another better to work within this team environment. The hours of rehearsal were the equivalent of almost a full term's worth of rehearsals, which was a wonderful catapult into the year musically for those ensembles. Thank you to all our teachers who gave up their weekend to be with the students, and congratulations to all the students who attended on the wonderful work you did.

SHEP

Early in March, six of our students participated in the State Honours Ensemble Program run by the Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University). These students were nominated by their teachers based on a minimum performance standard. The students worked from Friday after school through to the concert on Sunday afternoon. Congratulation to Jimmy, Trombone; Taiga, Saxophone; Siaosi, Voice; Elliot, Trumpet; Lewis, Trumpet; Oliver, Saxophone.

Assessment & Diaries

All students receive a copy of their lesson timetables at the beginning of term. These lesson times should be written into their diaries immediately. When they receive their Assessment and Excursion planners in the early weeks of each term, they should also write this information into their diaries. Clashes with lesson times and assessment can then be identified early and requests for changes to lesson times can be made. Cancellations of lessons with less than 24 hours notice (with the exception of illness) means that a lesson is still invoiced. 

As most of our instructors work at the College for only one day or less per week, it is very difficult for them to changes lesson times. It requires communication with the students affected as well as the student office. Many students don’t respond to their communication, further complicating the process. Please assist your son to be organised by ensuring the above information is recorded in their diaries.

Friends of the Arts

For all our new families, we have a group called 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 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 will be information in the newsletter and parent slips 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

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4