Director of Music
Celebration of Music Concert
Parents and students will be emailed in coming days with important information about our forthcoming annual Celebration Concert to take place on Sunday 27 October 2024 at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the beautiful Verbrugghen Hall. This date will be exactly 130 years to the day since a local newspaper article was published about the first ever Santa Sabina College concert. To mark this extraordinary moment, selected ensembles will be performing as part of the Celebration of Music Concert, and they have been working tirelessly to hone a program of exciting works set to provide a wonderful afternoon of entertainment. Please be sure to read any communication pieces from the Music Department, and note that due to the limited seating at the venue, there is unfortunately a cap of two tickets per family. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Santa Sabina Recital Series
Open Recitals
It seems that Term 3 is our ‘Recital’ term at Santa. Many of our Friday afternoons in August and September have seen musicians of all instrumental disciplines taking to the stage to showcase their development as young performers for family and friends alike. There are just two more recitals scheduled before the year is out, and these Open sessions will feature students from across the school who learn within our Private Tuition program. Please join us in Adams, Holyrood this coming Friday from 3:45pm for the next feature in our Recital series.
Performance for the Sisters at Regina Mundi Convent
Beyond merely learning an instrument, developing confidence and performance craft are also important considerations for any aspiring young musician.The only way to grow is to do it! We are so fortunate to have our Dominican Sisters with us on site, who support our girls in so many aspects of their schooling, and their musical growth is no exception. Vocal Tutor Tanith Bryce facilitated a dellightful lunchtime concert at the Regina Mundi Convent on Wednesday 4 September, and students richly benefited from this opportunity to share their work with a supportive audience. Students developed a thoughtful program of solos, duets and ensemble pieces, and It is our hope to present another lunchtime concert before the year is through.
NESA Examinations and Senior Showcases
Last Thursday 12 September was a momentous day for our graduating musicians. During the day, our HSC Music 1 and 2 students presented their performances for an external panel of NESA markers, and in the evening, they joined forces with the IB cohort to present compositions and performances for appreciative parents and friends. An additional performance opportunity was afforded to the HSC students in both Year 11 and 12 on Friday 6 September, and we commend both classes for their committed offerings within all these contexts.
Chamber Choir performs at Sydney Opera House
On Thursday 5 September, Chamber Choir were delighted to join as guests of the Sydney Children’s Choir to perform with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and iconic Australian band, The Cat Empire.
Guest Seminar by AMEB Chief Examiner
On Friday 6 September, the Chief String Examiner of the Australian Music Examinations Board, Caron Chan, joined us in Holyrood to present to students who are preparing for their Associate Diploma and Licentiate Examinations. Ms Chan offered advice on all aspects of preparation towards these examinations, and we are thrilled that the session was able to be filmed for any students who were unable to attend. Please reach out to our Head of Strings 5-12, Ms Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich if you would like to be given access to view this valuable presentation.
Sinfonietta & Gioia House Strings Breakfast Concert
For Year 6 Gioia House Strings students approaching the end of their curriculum String learning journey, now is a perfect time to consider joining the (unauditioned) Sinfonietta Strings on Monday mornings to continue growing in this area! For people who might be interested to see the full scope of opportunities available toour young string players, we look forward to showcasing our learning with parents and friends in the Santa Sabina Hall THIS COMING MONDAY 23 September. Our annual BREAKFAST CONCERT will also offer a featured performance from our Chamber Orchestra, as we walk our audience through Santa’s full successive program and the growth opportunities for beginner and intermediate string players alike. There will be a coffee van on site from 7:20am for parents to purchase their morning caffeine boost, and free pastries to enjoy while students warm up in the Hall. We look forward to having you with us!
Santa Sabina Community Choir
After an exciting inaugural performance as part of the 130th Gala Concert at the Sydney town Hall in June, the School that Sings is getting ready to gather its community for another hearty performance or two before the year is out!
Rally your friends and family! Lock in the dates below! Join us in Holyrood, as we have fun exploring a range of musical styles, with planned feature performances for both the Fra Angelico Festival and the beautiful Advent Carols in the Santa Sabina Chapel on 2 December. If you have yet to do so, please express interest in joining the fun with this COMMUNITY CHOIR EOI FORM. More information will be sent via email.
Community Choir Rehearsals
Monday 21 October | 7:00 – 8:00pm
Monday 4 November | 7:00 – 8:00pm
Monday 18 November | 7:00 – 8:00pm
Community Choir Performances
Friday 22 November | Fra Angelico Festival
Monday 2 December | Advent Carols
Reach out to Director of Music Amy Richardson for more information
music@ssc.nsw.edu.au
Director’s Honour Roll
Congratulations to the following students who have been rewarded for their diligent preparation towards recent Eisteddfods, Competitions and Examinations. We especially congratulate Year 4 student Soopia Chang who has received the ‘Golden Classical Award’ and 1st place in the Junior Division of the New York International Piano Competition, with a subsequent invitation to fly to New York and perform in recital at Carnegie Hall in December 2024.
We deeply appreciate receiving this message from Soopia’s mother:
We are deeply grateful to the music department, especially Miss Angela Kim (Santa Sabina College alumna, Class of 2019), for inspiring Soopia from a young age. Her guidance, along with the opportunities to perform at the Friday Music Recital, has significantly enhanced Soopia’s confidence and experience in public performances.
We are proud to be part of the Santa Sabina community, which fosters such a supportive and enriching musical environment.
As Director, I would also like to add my thanks to all of our wonderful tutors at Santa Sabina for their continued work with our students from P-12. My congratulations are offered to the following musicians for their achievements this term:
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Pianoforte | New York International Piano Competition | 1st Place |
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Pianoforte | Wollongong Eisteddfod (10y & under) | 1st Place |
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Pianoforte | Sydney Eisteddfod (10y & under) | 2nd Place |
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Pianoforte | Hawkesbury Eisteddfod (10y & under) Own choice | 1st Place |
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Pianoforte | Hawkesbury Eisteddfod (10y & under) Australian | 2nd Place |
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Pianoforte | Australian National Eisteddfod (10y & under) Own Choice | 1st Place |
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Pianoforte | Australian National Eisteddfod (10y & under) Duet | 1st Place |
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Pianoforte | City of Ryde Eisteddfod (10y & under) | 2nd Place |
| Soopia Chang | Year 4 | Viola | Hawkesbury Eisteddfod (2nd Grade) | 1st Place |
| Sophie Jabbour | Year 8 | Cello | AMEB Examination (Preliminary) | A |
| Aiden Curran | Year 5 | Double Bass | AMEB Examination (Grade 7) | A |
| Emily Korb-Wells | Year 5 | Pianoforte | AMEB Examination (Grade 3) | B+ |
| Grace Welsh | Year 5 | Pianoforte | AMEB Examination (Grade 1 – Piano for Leisure) | A |
| Esther Chiew | Year 5 | Pianoforte | AMEB Examination (Grade 2) | B |
| Aiden Curran | Year 5 | Double Bass | Masterclass with Barry Green from the USA | N/A |
| Dominique Portelli | Year 5 | Pianoforte | City of Ryde Eisteddfod (10y & under) | HC |
| Dominique Portelli | Year 5 | Pianoforte | St George Instrumental Eisteddfod (10y & under) | 3rd Place |
| Liam Nguyen | Year 4 | Pianoforte | AMEB Examination (Grade 3) | A |
| Liam Nguyen | Year 4 | Pianoforte | Hawkesbury Eisteddfod (10y & under) | HC |
| Claire D’Souza | Year 7 | Clarinet | Examination (Grade 3) | A |
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 week, we welcome internationally respected Saxophonist and Educator, Dr Peter Leung to our Santa Sabina specialist team. There has never been a better time to sign up for Saxophone lessons (or any of our other great offerings for that matter)! Register with the link below.
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 check out the Curriculum Music pages under each of our campus headers.
Wishing our community a safe and refreshing holiday.
Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12