Director of Music P-12
Term 4 is well underway and Holyrood is its usual humming home of activity at every moment it seems! Our lucky College neighbours must marvel as they walk past this building during the day.
As we head into the culminating term, our wonderful Music program is reflecting the highest number of enrolments on record. The numbers of course are only a small metric – but more vitally, I am proud to recount my delight at all the genuinely student-initiated music happenings springing up all over the place. A wonderful chapter for us all to be at Santa!
String Breakfast Showcase
The final weeks of Term 3 provided many exciting moments! Our String Breakfast Showcase on Monday 21 September in the final week saw hundreds of our string players open the door of their rehearsals to friends and families – a great chance for us to show the learning continuum that exists here from Del Monte through to the senior-most years.
Australian Boys Choir visits Santa!
On the final day of last term, we were delighted to welcome the Australian Boys Choir from Melbourne as part of their national tour! College Choir were enriched through participating in a workshop experience before joining in performance with the boys in a special recital. I will never cease to marvel at all the ways music can foster connections near and far!
Program Rollover – Looking Ahead to Music in 2027!
As we move towards the conclusion of the year, private tuition is in the process of being counted and reconciled to ensure all students redeemed their allocated 16 lessons per semester. Invoices will be generated for 2027 in early December, and credits will be applied where this is relevant.
Families are reminded that private lessons and ensemble enrolments all automatically roll over from one year to the next – to ensure continuity of learning and musical progress, and also for our specialists who are often mapping their workloads against other schools. (We of course want Santa to be their priority!)
Changing or discontinuing anything in 2026?
If your child will not be continuing tuition in 2027, a reminder that written notice of withdrawal must be received at least four weeks prior to the commencement of Term 1.
Term 1 2027 Invoices will be due for payment by the first week back. Where insufficient notice has been provided for discontinuation, this liability will still apply in accordance with the T&Cs agreed at the time of enrolment. Thank you for clearly communicating your intentions with as much forewarning as possible! Reach out to the Music Office (9745 7710) before the end of term if you have any questions.
Read on below for information about the many exciting performances, celebrations and recognition events still to come as we wrap up another remarkable year of music-making at the College!
See you at 5:00pm this Sunday for Celebration of Music!
Celebration of Music Concert
Our annual Celebration of Music Concert will take place this Sunday at 5:00pm in the magnificent Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. This annual end of year performance showcases is a much-loved part of our program calendar, and we look forward to sharing the breadth and excellence of music-making across the College in Semester 2, bringing our P-12 school together through our ensemble offerings in one of Sydney’s premier concert venues.
Just a handful of tickets remain. Families are encouraged to secure tickets and join us for this special occasion.
A reminder to all participating families to ensure permissions have been confirmed through TASS and that recent communications have been carefully read, as they contain important rehearsal, performance and logistical information.
Open Recital Series Finale
Our final Open Recital for the year will be held on Friday 6 November at 3:45pm in Adams Holyrood. Throughout the year these recitals have provided students with valuable opportunities to develop confidence, refine performance skills and share their musical achievements with the wider community.
This concluding recital promises to be a wonderful celebration of individual growth and artistic accomplishment across the year.
Mentored Rock Band – debut performances!
One of the highlights of Term 4 will be the debut performances of two of our Mentored Rock Bands alongside the Veteran Year 12 Rock Groups Boulevarde 27, the Year 12 CAS Band and the Stage Band! These student groups have spent the year developing collaborative rehearsal skills, performance techniques and ensemble musicianship under the guidance of experienced mentors! Keep your eye out during lunchtimes for their pop-up concerts!
Co-curricular Awards Night
The College Co-curricular Awards Night on 12 November will feature performances by our Taiko Drummers and a selected Chamber Ensemble, celebrating both musical excellence and student participation across the College. In addition to the Awards Night for Years 7-12, Gioia House and Del Monte will have their own awards presentations in special assemblies with information to be communicated to parents from the Sports office soon.
From this year, music ensemble participation will contribute to the College’s existing Co-curricular participation recognition framework – with music involvement now helping students achieve Red, Black and Platinum Participation Awards. In addition, students who have achieved significant milestones within Diploma accreditation or auditioned national/international performance opportunities will be formally recognised for these outstanding achievements.
In addition, a new recognition framework will also be launched for our program within the St Cecilia Music Awards – seeking to honour some of the values that sustain musical excellence. A student from each consecutive year will be recognised with an award for perseverance, dedication, passion, collaboration, innovation and service – in recognising this broader journey of learning.
Del Monte and Gioia House Music Showcases
As we wrap up our Music Curriculum activities for the year in Curriculum Instrumental lessons, classroom and choral time, parents and friends are warmly invited to join Del Monte and Gioia House students for a special sharing time – as they take pride in conveying all they have learnt in Music in 2026! Join us in the times below!
Del Monte Music Showcase (DM Rotunda)
Monday 16 November | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Gioia House Music Showcase (SS Hall)
Wednesday 18 November | 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Advent Carols Service
Our year will conclude with one of the most cherished events on the College calendar, the Advent Carols Service, at 6:30pm on Monday 30 November.
This annual gathering promises once again to be a wondrous and sacred occasion as our community pauses to reflect upon the year that has been. Through music, prayer and reflection, we will celebrate the Advent season together, giving thanks for our shared accomplishments and preparing to enter the summer break with gratitude and hope.
We warmly invite all members of our College community to join us for this special evening.
Amy Richardson
Director of Music P–12