Music News
Dr Andrew Butt
Marist College Ashgrove
The Semester 2 concert season is off to a busy start for Music Department. Over the past two weeks, the College has hosted and participated in a range of events, with many more performances to come before the end of term. On Thursday July 28th, the College hosted the biennial Blue & Gold Concert, which for 2022 has been a premier event. Returning for the first time since 2018, this concert welcomed back a number of College Community Members, including many Old Boys, friends of the College and music staff. Thank you to all students, families and members of the College Community for partaking in this special event and celebrating the rich musical culture that exists within our College community. On Sunday, July 28th Big Bands 1 and 2 travelled to Warwick at dawn, for the 2022 Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival, Big Band 1 continued on to Brisbane Powerhouse, joining members of Performance Choir to provide Music for the opening events of the 2022 Marist Schools Australia Conference, this year being hosted in Brisbane. These events have continued over Monday and Tuesday this week, including a liturgical ensemble and choir for the Conference Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral on Tuesday evening, August 2nd. We are pleased to share some photos from these events with you and look forward to sharing more details in the next edition of the College newsletter.
Essentially Ellington Downunder Festival – Thursday, August 11th (Week 5, Term 3)
JMI and New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Centre will be returning to bring this exciting festival to Australia once again, after a considerable hiatus due to the global pandemic. The Essentially Ellington Down Under Festival 2022, will feature a high school big band festival in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Adjudicated by two Jazz at the Lincoln Centre representatives. Marist Ashgrove is proud to be hosting the Brisbane heat. Involving the College’s Big Bands 1 and 2, this event will be open to spectators from the College Community, with performances in the Draney Theatre from 1:30pm, guests will then be invited to observe workshops in the Experimental Theatre from approximately 2:00pm. As this event is over the Exhibition Break Holiday, students involved are asked to provide RSVP via Parent Lounge.
Queensland Catholic Colleges Music Festival
Returning as an in-person event for the first time since 2019, Marist College Ashgrove is pleased to be involved in this great festival which is host to a variety of musical performances from Catholic School Ensembles from all around Queensland.
- Below are the respective performing dates and times for each of the College’s ensembles participating.
- A reminder that students involved that RSVP is required in Parent Lounge. If your RSVP is still outstanding, please complete this as soon as possible.
Ensemble | Date | Arrival | Venue | Performance Time |
| Chamber Choir | Saturday, August 13th | 4.15pm | STV Centre | 5.10pm |
| Chamber Strings | Saturday, August 13th | 5.30pm | Augustine Centre | 6.30pm |
| Symphony Orchestra | Sunday, August 14th | 9.00am | Augustine Centre | 10.10am |
| Wind Orchestra 1 | Sunday, August 14th | 2.00pm | Augustine Centre | 3.00pm |
Battle of the DJ Competition - St Rita’s College
On Sunday 31 July Marist College Ashgrove DJ student Will Nye competed against other DJ’s from local schools in St Rita’s College ‘Battle of the DJ’s’ competition. Playing a twenty-minute house set, which included originals, Will took out first place and won a DJ set at Eatons Hill Hotel alongside International artists. Will has been a student of the College’s D/Electronic Instrumental program since Year 7 and attributes his success to having more experience playing to a live audience. Students in Years 7-12 can learn DJ/Electronic music via the College’s Instrumental music program and should contact the music department via email (music@marash.qld.edu.au) for further information.
ABC 90th Birthday Campaign
In 2022, ABC is celebrating its 90th Birthday, to help celebrate 90 years in the business, ABC brought together hundreds of amazing performers to create a majestic rendition of I Am Australian. We are proud to announce that Marist College Ashgrove student, Ben Gibson (Year 9), was one of 90 drummers featured in this performance, which was televised nationally in June. Keep an eye out for a shot of Ben throughout the performance!
Tertiary Music Pathways
Students considering a tertiary pathway in Music for 2022, please note the following key information. Music courses have certain requirements, which can include auditions and/or submitting portfolios of work. These requirements often need to be completed well before non-music QTAC applications. Below are some key points and dates for various institutions. Please note, that there have been some slight changes to the audition process for some courses over the past two years.
If you are considering a tertiary pathway in Music for 2022, please ensure you discuss this with your Classroom and/or Instrumental Music teachers to ensure adequate support is provided. Should students or parents/guardians have any questions, you are encouraged to contact the Music Department at any time. For further information regarding QTAC applications, please contact the College Career Counsellor who can also offer further assistance specific to this area.
Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University: Bachelor of Music (Performance: Jazz, Classical etc; Creative Music Technology; Composition; or Musical Theatre)
- Submit your QTAC Application between: closes 9 September 2022
- Register and Pay for your Audition via GriffithPAY by: 31 August
- Phase 1: Submit Recorded Video Audition (Performance/Musical Theatre) or Portfolio (Creative Music Technology & Composition) and Supporting Documents (Artistic Statement): Due August 31
- Phase 2: In-person/online audition between: Dates TBC (advised via QCGU by mid-September)
Queensland University of Technology: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music)
- Apply Via QTAC: From August 2 2022 (closes 26 September)
- Complete QUT online registration form and pay application fee via QUTPay
- This online forms includes application: 2 Audition Video Links, Supporting documentation (2 Page Music CV and Evidence of Musical Achievements) and Personal Statement Video
- Application due date: 26 September (5:00pm)
Info: https://www.qut.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts-music#requirements
Degree Homepage: https://www.qut.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts-music
University of Queensland: Bachelor of Music (Honours)
- Apply Via QTAC: From August 2
- Submit Application Audition Form including a fifteen-minute video recorded audition
- Applications close Monday August 15, 4:00pm
More Info: https://music.uq.edu.au/study/bachelor-music-honours-auditions
JMI (Jazz Music Institute): https://www.jazz.qld.edu.au/how-to-apply/
JMC Academy:
(Contemporary Music Performance)
https://www.jmcacademy.edu.au/our-courses/contemporary-music-performance/
(Audio Engineering & Sound Production)
https://www.jmcacademy.edu.au/our-courses/audio-engineering-sound-production/(Music Production)
https://www.jmcacademy.edu.au/our-courses/music-production/
(Songwriting)