Director of Music P-12
Music at Santa Sabina
From Mary Bailey House to Year 12: off and racing for 2025!
I would like to offer a special welcome to anyone new to our College community, and reiterate our heartfelt commitment to helping your child become quickly established and maximise all the music opportunities that a Santa Sabina education affords! Along with our new students, we are pleased to see so many Santa girls and boys enrolling to try something new this year. We look forward to seeing these journeys unfold—whether in private vocal or instrumental lessons, or in the new ensemble you have joined.
Our mission is that every graduate will leave the Santa Sabina gates convinced of the value of music to their lives and empowered with ways to meaningfully engage with it forevermore.
There are still places available in most of our offerings. Explore opportunities and register for an Ensemble or Private Tuition via this link:
Read on to learn of all the exciting initiatives you will find in Music at Santa over the coming weeks and months. You can also hear about happenings in the Music Curriculum space, with Veritas Voice posts in each section of our College.
We wish you a year filled with music, hope, and every good thing.
Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12
Preview Documentary Screening
On Friday 28 February (from 3:30pm in the Lecture Theatre), an exciting opportunity has arisen for our community to spend time with Barkindji Songwoman (and powerful force for good) Nancy Bates. We have been granted the rights to offer a rare screening of her groundbreaking new documentary SONGS INSIDE.
Based on Nancy’s transformative work in Adelaide Prison (with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and other high profile cameos!) this film showcases the power of Music to create hope, and to bring restoration.
Older students are welcome, but guardians are responsible for their care.
The documentary is yet to be classified, but is recommended for ages 15+.
Contemporary Music Streams at Santa
Next Thursday 27 February, we are excited to be hosting a lunchtime launch session for brand new Contemporary Music and Industry offerings at Santa Sabina. If you are interested in forming a Rock Band, starting a Music business one day – or learning about engineering live and recorded sound – we can’t wait to tell you about all the co-curricular offerings in the pipeline for 2025! Come along to hear how you can get involved.
Italy Music Tour 2025
This year, we are preparing for a Music tour to Italy from 26 September – 8 October. The 2025 Italian Music Tour will give students the special opportunity to sing Mass in the Basilica di Santa Sabina Rome, St Peter’s Basilica Rome and St Mark’s Basilica Venice and the chance to take part in workshops with leading Italian choirs and orchestras. In addition to these experiences, there will be the chance to perform in beautiful venues in Rome, Florence and Venice.
As well as these once-in-a-lifetime learning and performance opportunities, the tour will also explore the fascinating, historic and picturesque cities of Rome, Siena, Florence, Padua and Venice, with some delicious local food to be enjoyed along the way!
If you are new to the College and would like to know more about this opportunity, please reach out to music@ssc.nsw.edu.au and we will be happy to assist with any information you require.
For students who are already enrolled in this tour, detailed information will be provided soon. Stay tuned for updates on the itinerary, important dates, and rehearsals and repertoire. We look forward to an exciting journey together!
Summer Music Fun!
We commend all the Santa students who took the opportunity to audition and participate in various Music extension programs held across the state over the summer! Students and staff contributed as part of the SYO Summer School (held at Santa Sabina); Gondwana Choral Summer School; and the USYD Opera & Music Theatre Lab. If you would like to know more about opportunities over the holiday periods, reach out to the Music Department and we would be delighted to let you know of relevant happenings over Sydney.
Music Theatre Opportunities
As we lean into Music Theatre offerings at Santa, we are happy to share one exciting avenue for extension that is available to our senior Santa Sabina College students. Our own Santa Sabina voice tutor Tanith Bryce helps facilitate a fantastic program called the Opera and Music Theatre Lab at the University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music each year. This week-long intensive course (dubbed ‘boot camp’!) for singers aged 15-25, accepts auditions annually, and includes extension in singing, dance, and acting, and masterclasses with experienced opera and music theatre industry professionals.
In January, one of our talented Year 12 students, Cary Yeung, attended this program and excelled in her performances. The course culminated in a Showcase concert at the newly reopened Footbridge Theatre at USYD.
Opera and Music Theatre Lab is held annually via the Open Academy at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Santa Sabina encourages vocal students to apply for this development opportunity. For more information, visit the Conservatorium website.
Let’s go – 2025!
We will be sharing more in coming weeks about our Open Recital Series for families and friends of our Private Tuition students; and our April Australian Composers Day to take place at the end of this term. Plans for our Gala Concert at the Sydney Town Hall in June are already simmering away, and we are looking forward to another incredible year of Music making at Santa Sabina College.
Amy RIchardson
Director of Music P-12