From The Principal

MLC School’s 16th Sydney Opera House Concert will be held on Monday 22 May 2023. After an imposed hiatus due to the renovation of the Opera House and the impact of the pandemic, I am incredibly excited that we can again gather to celebrate the part that each of us plays in the remarkable story of MLC School and enjoy an exceptional showcase of music.

Producing such a high quality, inclusive and extensive program of performances requires many months of planning and commitment from all involved. Across the School, ensembles have been rehearsing challenging repertoire and all students have been involved in learning the massed choir items.  Along with all staff, Director of Music Trevor Mee and I have been incredibly impressed with the way that our students have embraced the opportunity. Many who are involved in the whole school items have not sung before, yet they have committed themselves to regular rehearsals, learning their parts and participating with great enthusiasm.

The MLC School Opera House Concert is, of course, much more than just an opportunity to perform at one of the world’s most iconic venues. The things that a student learns about herself and her potential as she battles with challenging music, learns to listen to others with whom she is singing or playing, and takes the risk of performing in front of thousands of people, will be just as impactful as the memory of being on the Opera House Concert Hall stage, surrounded and supported by the School community.

Being involved in something like this, which challenges you in a variety of ways, helps us to gain new insights into ourselves, develop greater empathy for others, and learn more about our strengths and weaknesses. As we develop these new skills, or hone our existing ones, we learn new ways of approaching problems and successfully meeting a challenge, giving us a sense of accomplishment and a boost to our self-confidence. These lessons can then be put to good use in tackling other challenges that will come our way. And as we know, research suggests that singing and playing music can help improve academic skills such as language development, reading, and concentration.

It is for these reasons that involvement in the Opera House Concert is compulsory for all students in Year 5 to Year 12, and I thank you for supporting your daughter’s participation. I look forward to seeing you on 22 May.

– Lisa Moloney
Principal

Image: from the first Opera House Concert in 1986 (‘The Grand Concert’ was held to celebrate the MLC School Centennial)

Click on the image gallery for full sized images