Artistic Director

Elective Music Students attend ENCORE – Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

Here are some of our students’ reflections on the recent concert showcasing the best 2022 HSC Music performances across NSW.

The Encore concert was a good experience and provided insight into all the different pieces people can perform for their HSC. I enjoyed the performance by the jazz band (guitar, saxophone, drums, keyboard) which heavily featured the Bass Guitar because the saxophone parts were very cool. The saxophone performance was also exciting because I hadn’t played or heard a piece like that before. I also found the jazz/blues piano enjoyable because it was different from what other people performed and reminded me of elevator music. Overall the night had many different and enjoyable performances, which were all amazing.
Monica Zhou
Year 10 Music Elective 

I was very grateful that I was invited to the great Encore concert. I liked the jazz song with the piano, I had never played a jazz song, so when I listened, it made me want to play jazz. There are differences between Australian and Japanese concerts; the audience’s cheering was great for me. The Opera House is an exceptional place, so during my stay, it is the second time I’ve been to the Opera House, so I feel lucky for the chance to go again. Thank you!
Miu Odagiri
Year 10 Japanese Exchange Student 

The Encore concert was a great experience, and I enjoyed it tremendously. I had a great time, and watching all of the performers was very insightful. I specifically liked some of the vocal pieces and was amazed at the sheer talent displayed by the performers. For example, the song ‘Run Away With Me’ created by Kerrigan-Lowdermilk, was incredibly moving for me. I liked how the performer sounded. The performer’s tone and vocal colour impressed me, and his performance stuck with me.
Grace Benedict
Year 10 Music Elective 

I was very inspired after seeing the 2022 Encore Showcase. The performances were varied, and all performers played well. They had put a lot of effort into their preparation and made me want to be on that stage too. I enjoyed the string performances, and I was moved by their musical expression! 
Minori Yoshimura
Year 10 Elective Music 

On 27 February, I was able to experience last year’s top HSC music students performing at the Sydney Opera House. The performances comprised various music genres, including classical, rock, jazz and Musical Theatre. These performances included either compositions or student performances. An MLC student had her composition as a double bass player using an exciting technique of slapping the body of her instrument while playing with her mates. This gave me an idea of how to compose my piece when I do the HSC, such as using a wide variety of creativity with sound and a wacky sense of playing the instrument. The student compositions were the most helpful as they inspired me in what I should be expected to write/compose in Year 12. Overall, I enjoyed all the performances, but I wish I could’ve been able to experience Santa Sabina students’ performance. It was a beneficial concert.
Shea Oh
Year 10 Elective Music 

The performances varied from jazz and classical and were incredible. I found that there are not many ‘standard’  instruments. I enjoyed the performances involving the drum, bass guitar, and singers. One of my favourite performances was by Joshua B, who played a duet on a drum kit with a bass guitar. The performance sounded like it was meant to be at a rock concert. The bass and drum kit fit well and created an exciting performance.
Sophia Wong
Year 10 Music Elective 

I enjoyed the jazz performances and there were a lot of outstanding percussion performances. Some of my favourite songs were; Birdlike, performed by Fredrick Stafford, Taylor Hawkins, Tribute Duet (Hawkins/Grohl) performed by Joshua Blythe, and Couldn’t Stand the Weather, performed by Ethan Cochran. I like how all the drummer performers were very invested and enjoying the performance; they were clearly into it. The second act was not as good as the first one. All of the performers were very skilful.
Hannah Gaul
Year 10 Elective Music

The Encore performances had an extensive range of styles, and I enjoyed hearing the variety!  The marimba item, ‘Violet’s Etude’, had a beautiful ethereal feel, which I liked, and the student was incredibly skilled. I also really enjoyed the performance of the ‘Taylor Hawkins Tribute Duet’ performance, as the performer had a lot of energy, and it was a great performance to watch and listen to. As someone who plays the piano, I found it interesting to watch the performance of ‘Birdlike’ as it was great to see a different style of the piano being performed; this inspired me!
Kavitha Vatatharajan
Year 10 Elective Music

Gioia House Mini Maestros Instrumental Program

Our Mini Maestros program is underway, with students playing a percussion, brass or woodwind instrument. They are in full swing, with Yr 5 playing together as a band only after four weeks of playing. This, of course, is only half of the year group. The other half is playing a stringed instrument next door!

Consort 8 – a concert in the Santa Sabina Chapel on Saturday 1 April

Consort 8 and Mr Tim Chung (countertenor) will perform a beautiful and reflective concert of Lent and Easter music in the Chapel on Saturday 1 April 5:30pm – 7:00pm.

Consort 8 is one of the College’s musical professional partners and is Sydney’s unique early music group. The Santa Chamber Choir performed with Consort 8 last December in their annual Christmas Concert.

All Santa students and parents are welcome to this concert – entry is free for Santa Sabina families.

For more information please visit: https://consort8.org/

Timothy Chung
Artistic Director