North Queensland Anglican Schools

Music Festival

By Samantha Johnson | Trinity Anglican School, QLD

Eleven students from Trinity Anglican School (TAS) Cairns were excited to travel to Townsville to take part in the inaugural North Queensland Anglican Schools music festival, hosted by The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James.

The concert featured selected student musicians from the four Anglican schools in North Queensland – Whitsunday Anglican School (Mackay), All Souls St Gabriel’s (Charters Towers), Cathedral School of St Anne and St James (Townsville) and Trinity Anglican School.

TAS students spent a day on the road before their first rehearsal at the Cathedral School to familiarise themselves with the music. Students were involved in either the Wind or String ensemble and spent time practicing in their respective groups.

The following day was spent on more focused practice, with musicians splitting off into sectionals and spending lots of time on rhythm and feeling the internal pulse of the music. The staff, led by Professor Rob McWilliams as Ensemble Director – Concert Band, Heidi Newell as String Ensemble Director, and Katherine Menkins as Vocal Ensemble Director, were wonderful, as were the music staff who assisted.

Sunday morning was the day of the concert, with a final morning rehearsal before it was time to perform. With outstanding performances from the Wind Ensemble, the Choir and the Strings, it was hard to believe that students from four Anglican schools had only began rehearsing together for the first time less than 48 hours ago. Music has a way of bringing all kinds of people together.

We all learnt so much from the experience and it was truly amazing to hear the improvement made across the rehearsals that led to a magnificent concert finale. The opportunity to meet other students from other regional Anglican Schools with shared interests and then to work hard together across the weekend to make music was really satisfying. Our thanks to The Cathedral School who were wonderful and generous hosting the Anglican school music community over that weekend.