Director of Music
Welcome to Term 4!
From our littlest ones in Mary Bailey House to our newly minted Year 12 students, across the College over 100 musical items are being diligently prepared to present to our community in a myriad of formal events before the year is through.
Celebration of Music Concert
On Sunday, over 300 students from within our P-12 Co-curricular programs took to the stage of Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music as we celebrated 130 years to the day that a news article appeared in a local publication telling of the first ever music concert by Santa Sabina students. From its earliest beginnings to the strong program with nearly 30 ensembles we see today, the seeds sown 130 years ago have indeed flourished.
We congratulate all performers for their dedicated work which produced a concert of diverse genres and setting a strong and exciting trajectory for our next 130 years. Taiko drums hailed the opening of the event with the original work Tori Daiko, followed by our newest Zheng ensemble who offered a sparkling performance of Fighting the Typhoon. The program featured the Australian Premiere of Malay-inspired choral work La-Li-Lei by Dr Tracy Wong; In Paradisum from Fauré’s Requiem in the 100th year since his passing; Ernest Bloch’s Concerto Grosso and Beethoven’s rousing 5th Symphony to close the concert. A particular highlight of the evening was Year 9 student Celine Choi’s superlative offering of Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto with our Symphony Orchestra.
It has been an incredible year of music-making so far, and there is much still in store before the year is out.
Join us for the events and performances below as we bring 2024 to its closing cadence.
Amy RIchardson
Director of Music P-12
Chamber Recital – North London Collegiate School (Korea)
This Friday, 1 November 2024, we are delighted to be hosting a Camerata String Ensemble from Jeju Island, Korea. The North London Collegiate School will be arriving as guests in our Symphony Orchestra rehearsal before shadowing classes for the morning. They will spend the afternoon preparing a Chamber Recital of beautiful works for our community in our Chapel. Everyone is welcome to attend this free performance as we celebrate the global community and the international connections that music richly affords us.
Date: Friday 1 November 2024
Time: 3:45pm
Venue: Santa Sabina Chapel
Mozart’s Sister Feature Film and Performance
Members of Chamber Orchestra have received the exciting invitation to perform before a special screening of the new Australian docufilm Mozart’s Sister – screening on Sunday 3 November 2024 at the Palace Norton Street Cinema in Leichhardt.
The documentary is an exploration of the life and accomplishments of Maria Anna Mozart, the lesser known older sister of Wolfgang Amadeus. The film purports the urgent need to create value and space for women composers, in a field in which there remains such inequitable gender representation. The film’s producer, Madeleine Miau is delighted by the partnership with Santa Sabina College, and prominent Australian composer Jessica Wells is looking forward to collaborating with our students in the year to come (with an important collaboration also planned for our Gala Concert in 2025).
Buy tickets here: https://www.palacecinemas.com.au/movies/mozarts-sister
Date: Sunday 3 November 2024
Time: 12:30pm Santa Sabina Chamber Orchestra Performance
Film: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Venue: Palace Norton Street, Leichhardt
Santa Sabina Recital Series
The final recital of the year will be held next week! Nearly 30 students from our co-curricular stream will be showcasing their current works of study. From our smallest Kindergarten instrumentalists to our Diploma-awardees, these informal soirees provide a tremendous opportunity for students to grow in their performance craft in a rewarding and supportive environment. Please join us!
Date: Friday 8 November 2024
Time: 3:45pm – 5:00pm
Venue: Holyrood (Adams)
Gioia House Instrumental Concert
We are pleased to be holding a learning showcase for our Gioia House Instrumental Program Ensembles to demonstrate the progress our students have made over the year! We are excited to present this opportunity for parents and carers to see their child’s learning in context within these curriculum ensembles, and look forward to sharing light refreshments with you prior to the performance in the Hall.
Date: Wednesday 13 November 2024
Venue: Santa Sabina Hall
Time: 11:15am – Morning Tea
11:30am – Concert start time
Santa Sabina Community Choir
The Santa Sabina Community singers are excitedly preparing for pop-up performances as part of the Fra Angelico Festival and the Advent Carols service at the end of the year.
For more information, email music@ssc.nsw.edu.au or complete this COMMUNITY CHOIR EOI FORM.
Our next rehearsal will be this coming Monday 4 November in Holyrood.
Community Choir Rehearsals
Monday 4 November | 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Monday 18 November | 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Community Choir Performances
Friday 22 November | Fra Angelico Festival
Monday 2 December | Advent Carols
Italy Tour 2025 – Meeting!
Further to the email at the end of Term 3, we are pleased to confirm our first meeting as a consolidated tour group. Parents and students alike are invited to attend as we discuss plans and present repertoire that we will be rehearsing for this tour. There is no need to bring musical instruments to this meeting. Please see email and the Parent Lounge for relevant communication pieces to this end.
Date: Thursday 14 November 2024
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Venue: Holyrood (Adams)
Fra Angelico
As part of the Fra Angelico Festival of Arts being held on Friday 22 November, the Music Department is delighted to once again take the opportunity to showcase many of our curriculum ensembles and programs from Prep to Year 6, in addition to the talents of our Rock Band, Stage Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Taiko Ensemble, Chamber Choir and Taiko Ensembles.
EVERY CHILD FROM P-6 WILL BE PERFORMING at this exciting community event, in addition to several other invited ensembles across the College. An information letter will be sent home to families shortly with all the details pertaining to these performances. Thank you for your support – we look forward to this showcase of student work!
Advent Carols
Save the date! College, Chamber and Community Choirs are already sinking their teeth into the magnificent festive repertoire that will bring our year to a close in this beloved annual tradition.
Date: Monday 2 December 2024
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Santa Sabina Chapel
Register for Music opportunities at Santa Sabina
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!
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.