Music in the Senior School (Curriculum)
Elective Music – ENCORE
Students in Elective Music (Years 9–12) had the exciting opportunity to attend ENCORE at the Sydney Opera House on Monday 2 March. This annual showcase features outstanding performances and compositions from the HSC Music 1, Music 2 and Extension courses. Congratulations to 2025 graduate Shea Oh who placed as part of the showcase for her Musicology and was listed in the program; proudly showcasing the diversity of our Santa Sabina program offerings. Our students experienced an inspiring concert spanning a wide range of genres, styles and creative approaches. Below are some reflections from those who attended:
‘The performances at ENCORE were really impressive and eye‑opening — there were so many pieces that truly felt like an engaging ‘performance’ that was wonderful to watch and listen to. As a Year 12 HSC student myself, I found it inspirational and insightful in shaping my own performances for the year ahead.’
Ellie Kwon
Year 12 Music 2
‘Attending ENCORE this year was an incredible experience that left a lasting impact on me. I was especially inspired by the creativity of the performers, both in their original compositions and in the way they adapted well‑known songs to engage the audience. Watching how each performer used stage presence, expression and interpretation gave me so many ideas for my own development as a singer.’
Lucy Cordony‑Jones
Year 12 Music 1
‘ENCORE was such an amazing opportunity that I will be forever grateful for. There were so many incredible performers from a variety of schools who shared their talent, and young composers who have definitely inspired me to continue experimenting with different sounds.’
Felicia Zhang
Year 11IB
‘ENCORE was an inspiring experience as it allowed me to witness the skill and competence that high school students like us could achieve. I feel that each performer’s presence on stage uplifted the audience and created an atmosphere of genuine excitement. Their performance, confidence and creativity reminded me of the possiblities if we were to commit to our passions within music. I am so grateful for this experience. It gave me a deeper appreciation for how powerful ilive performances can be.’
Mira Nguyen
Year 11IB
‘ENCORE was a really inspiring experience, and I loved listening to the different types of performances at the Opera House. If given the opportunity, I would definitely attend again next year.’
Abigail Yang
Year 10 Elective Music
Australian Composers Day
Last year’s Composer’s Day was our most highly attended on record, with guests joining us from across NSW for this important and strategic investment in our aspiring composers. It is a joy to share our resources with peer schools – both from regional communities and around Sydney – and we look forward to hosting this event again in 2026.
This year’s event will take place as a whole day incursion on Monday 4 May and will feature an exciting and diverse line‑up of guest creators, ranging from free‑style rap artist Luka Lesson to leading voices in the Australian composition landscape such as Maria Grenfell and Alice Chance. We are enormously privileged to offer this opportunity to students in Elective Music (Years 9-12), as well as advanced co-curricular musicians from Years 7-12 who participate in Symphony Orchestra or Chamber Choir.
Years 7 and 8
Year 7 students have begun their keyboard program, exploring a range of repertoire while building confidence in their technical skills. Alongside this, they are continuing their study of musical structure, pitch and duration through the unit Building Bricks, laying strong foundations for their learning across the year.
Year 8 students have launched into their guitar studies, learning the C, F and G chords and applying these to the 12‑bar Blues. As the term progresses, they will extend their skills to include the E, A and B chords in preparation for their assessment tasks, and will also begin exploring and improvising on the Blues scale.
We look forward to hearing all the wonderful music making to come!
Year 9 and 10 Elective Music
Our elective music students in Years 9 and 10 have made an exciting start to their performance work for the year. Both year groups have begun rehearsing with their accompanists as they prepare for their upcoming Performance assessments, developing confidence and stage readiness. We look forward to hearing all the wonderful music being prepared !
Year 9 students are continuing their study of Theatre Music and have now begun composing their own Ground Bass pieces, applying their understanding of pattern, harmony and dramatic effect.
Year 10 students are extending their learning through the topic Music of the 20th Century. They have also commenced their composition assessment task, exploring motivic development, texture and the innovative techniques that shaped this period of musical change.
Senior Music
Year 11 – HSC Music 1 and 2
Our Year 11 Music 1 and Music 2 students are working closely with their accompanist as they prepare for their upcoming Performance assessment task. Their rehearsals are well underway, and students are demonstrating growing confidence, musical maturity and commitment to refining their chosen repertoire.
We wish them all the very best as they continue their rehearsal process and dedicate time to purposeful practice.
Year 11 – IB Music
Our Year 11 IB Music students are making strong progress in their Exploring Music in Context assessment task. They are continuing to develop both their analytical writing and their composition work, demonstrating increasing confidence in connecting musical ideas to context and intention.
Students have also been working steadily with their accompanist as they prepare the performance component of this task, refining their interpretations and strengthening their ensemble skills.
Year 12 – HSC Music 1, 2 and Extension
Our Year 12 Music students continue to make impressive progress as they work through the practical components of their HSC course. Their composition projects are developing with increasing refinement, and students are shaping their musical ideas with clarity, creativity and a strong sense of personal style.
In performance, students are building polished and cohesive recital programs. They are thoughtfully exploring ensemble accompaniment options to enhance their interpretations and strengthen the overall flow of their sets. Their commitment to regular rehearsal is clearly paying off.
Both Music 1 and Music 2 classes are also advancing well with their Term 1 composition tasks.
- Music 1 students are creating works linked to their topic Music for Small Ensembles, focusing on texture and the interplay between their chosen instruments.
- Music 2 students are continuing to develop their core compositions for the mandatory topic Music of the Last 25 Years, with draft submissions approaching as they work toward their final pieces later in the year.
Weekly rehearsals with accompanists remain a highlight, with students demonstrating strong musical growth and increasing confidence.
Our Music 2 Extension (Performance) students are also preparing to present half of their recital program for assessment, showcasing solo works that reflect their developing artistry and technical skill. It’s remarkable to see how far they have come already this year, and we applaud their dedication and determination as they work toward their performance goals.
Froukje Werlemann-Godfrey
Head of Music 5-12
Alana Thorne
Curriculum Music Teacher 7-12
Veronica Tsang
Curriculum Music Teacher 7-12
A Message from the Director of Music
Click below to find out more about Co-curricular opportunities and Music Performances at Santa Sabina College.