Director of Music
Welcome to Semester 2! While our previous semester finished on a high note at our 130th Anniversary Gala Concert at the Sydney Town Hall, there are still so many more performances and experiences in store for our students and community before the year is through.
Our 130th St Dominic’s Day saw a moment to take pause and reflect on the gifts that have flourished here at Santa over the years. I am deeply thankful to be part of such a warm, embracing community, alongside an exemplary music team working together to build enriching experiences for our students – connecting too with the rich musical heritage of our Dominican Charism.
Read on to hear about the happenings of the past few weeks, and the exciting plans for the terms ahead.
Let’s make some wonderful music this semester.
Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12
Director’s Honour Roll
Santa Sabina musicians have been very busy over the past few months, with many acquiring grades and rich experiences in support of their broader music journey. We would like to commend the students below for the following achievements:
Grandparents Day!
Our littlest musicians added such joy to celebrations of our Grandparents and Grandfriends today! Thank you to all our performers and to our wonderful Del Monte music staff who prepared our ensembles with such polish for this very special time.
130th St Dominic’s Day Mass
Thank you to the College Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Laudare Singers, Siena Singers and all the students in Years 4-6 who helped lead the wonderful music as part of our 130th St Dominic’s Day Mass. As we celebrated 130 years of Dominican Education at Santa Sabina College, hearing our whole community join together in celebration was very special. We are grateful as always for the musicians who diligently serve the college community with their talents.
Italian Music Tour 2025
Thank you to all those who have applied to participate in the Italian Music Tour in September 2025. Applications are being considered and the successful applicants will be advised in due course. We look forward to holding our first meeting before the year is through, and curating a program of repertoire to perform in some of the most beautiful and sacred venues across Italy throughout this extraordinary tour, hosted by Music travel specialists Hayllar Music Tours. Now that the viability of the tour has been confirmed, late applications may also be considered – so please reach out to the music office (music@ssc.nsw.edu.au) if you are interested but have yet to express so!
Community Choir in Semester 2
Santa is well known as ‘The School that Sings’ and this group has been established with the purpose of drawing ex-students, existing community members, parents and friends, and our Dominican Sisters together through music. See the photos from our first gathering here.
Our debut performance as part of the finale at the 130th Anniversary Gala Concert was well received, and (GET EXCITED) plans are afoot for another performance or two before the year is out! Rehearsals will be scheduled sporadically on Monday evenings from 7:00 – 8:00pm and no previous experience is necessary. Register via this link to be kept up to date with this choir’s happenings!
Santa Sabina Recital Series
Open Studio Recitals
Semester 1’s burgeoning recitals gave testament to our thriving Private Tuition program. With a 30% increase in students receiving private tuition since this time last year, our recitals provided opportunities for beginner and experienced musicians alike to grow in confidence and hone their performance craft as they presented for family and friends. There are three more Open Recitals scheduled before the year is out, and any student receiving Private Tuition at Santa Sabina College is encouraged to embrace this opportunity! Speak to your tutor for more information.
Curriculum Recitals
Years 9, 11 & 12 will be presenting recitals for their parents and friends as part of their assessments and final HSC preparations this term. We welcome you to come along to support these students on the dates above.
Chamber Ensemble Recital 2024
In addition to Curriculum and Private Tuition Recitals, our annual Chamber Ensemble Recital is to be held on the evening of 27 August 2024 in the Chapel, and will showcase the best of our ‘small ensemble’ offerings at Santa Sabina. The evening will feature trios, quartets and ensembles in both choral and instrumental domains. A sublime event that is not to be missed.
Sinfonietta & Gioia House Strings Open Rehearsal
There’s no doubt that our Santa Sabina Strings programs have been experiencing tremendous growth in the last year! There are now over 80 players in the Monday morning Sinfonietta ensemble! For Year 6 Gioia House Strings students approaching the end of their curriculum String learning journey, if you have yet to do so, now is a perfect time to consider joining the Sinfonietta Strings to continue realising your potential in this domain.
We look forward to showcasing our learning with parents and friends on 23 September!
Save the dates
In addition to the Semester 2 Recital Series, we encourage you to save the dates for the following Music-specific events taking place across the remainder of the year. (Please note that this list is not an exhaustive list of music happenings! You will also hear our young performers in countless assemblies and other important College events before the year is through. Please refer to all notices and other communications across the remainder of the term and reach out to the Music Office if you have any questions).
- Chamber Music Recital (27 August)
- Chamber Choir performs with The Cat Empire & SSO (5 September)
- Sinfonietta & GH Strings Open Rehearsal (23 September)
- Celebration of Music at Verbruggen Hall (27 October)
- Fra Angelico Festival (22 November)
- Advent Carols (2 December)
Register for Music opportunities at Santa Sabina
The start of semester is the perfect chance to consider what skills and experiences might still be waiting for you as part of your holistic schooling journey! In addition to signing up to be part of our ensembles (choirs, bands and orchestras), you can now register via the College App or by using the link below for lessons in any of the following instruments:
Piano, Harpsichord, Harp, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Voice, Flute, Recorder, Zheng, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, French Horn, Orchestral Percussion, Drum Kit, Guitar, Bass Guitar and individual or group tuition in Composition or Musicianship!
This semester we are delighted to welcome the exceptional Suellen Monaghan (Flute Specialist) and Steve Marin (Drumkit Specialist) to our Santa Sabina specialist team! Both of these educators come with glowing references and international regard as both performers and educators. There’s never been a better time to sign up for lessons!
Find out more!
If you would like to know more about one of our music offerings across the school (be it choirs, bands, orchestras or private tuition) please reach out via music@ssc.nsw.edu.au or to Ms Suzanna Touma in the Music Office at s.touma@ssc.nsw.edu.au and we will be happy to assist you.
To find out more about what’s happening in Curriculum Music at Santa Sabina, be sure to click on the links below!
Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12