ASC Schools Week 2021

29 AUGUST - 4 SEPTEMBER 2021

ASC Schools Week was first held in September 2012. It was our custom to hold Schools Week as a biennial event, but as for most things in 2020, a global pandemic got in the way. Our fifth Schools Week was rescheduled for 2021 and was held from 29th August to 4th September.

Schools Week allows our music students to come together, rehearse and learn from professional conductors and musicians and perform at the ASC Schools Week concert at the Perth Concert Hall in front of family, friends and special guests. This follows a special Schools Week Eucharist held at St George’s Cathedral where we celebrate God’s goodness to us. It is clear that God’s goodness and greatness comes to us through our talented students.

The theme for this year’s Schools Week was based on the natural elements, with music conveying the beauty of water, earth, stars and more. For the first time, our concert also featured our Indigenous Students Ensemble who presented the Boss Arts Kooloonga at the start of the program, celebrating our First Nations people and their connection to country.

I wish to thank our very talented Guest Conductors, Perry Joyce, Jonathan Tooby, Paul De Cinque, Jessica Herbert and Jasper Miller, composer Lydia Gardiner, and Artists in Residence Della Rae Morrison, Charley Caruso and Olman Walley; the Heads of Music from across our schools who have worked tirelessly for months leading to tonight’s concert; Michael Newton, Director of Music at St George’s Anglican Grammar School and the ASC’s Schools Week Concert Director; and the many ASC staff who have offered their skills to ensure Schools Week has been a success.

Our 5th ASC Schools Week Concert was a great success. After the challenges of the past eighteen months, we appreciated the opportunity to gather with grateful hearts, as our talented young musicians shone on stage of the Perth Concert Hall. What a wonderful display of the talent and hard work of the students and staff in ASC schools.

The Reverend Peter Laurence OAM Chief Executive Officer

EUCHARIST

1 SEPTEMBER 2021

Water, earth, wind and fire were woven into the ASC Schools Week Eucharist held at St George’s Cathedral on 1st September.

The theme of this year’s Schools Week was based on the four natural elements. The elements were celebrated throughout the Eucharist presided by The Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO, Archbishop of Perth.

Archbishop Kay wove the elements into her homily, each of which reminds us of God our creator, while the hymns and the reading from the first book of Kings by students from Frederick Irwin Anglican School reinforced her words.

Students from all WA-based ASC schools contributed to the Eucharist, including a beautiful performance by the St Paul’s Chapel Choir of John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, directed by Mr Ry Charleson, and a dramatic interpretation of a portion of the Gospel according to John by students from St Mark’s Anglican Community School.

A highlight was the procession of students and school banners into the Cathedral led by Peter Carnley Anglican Community School Year 9 student Jeremy Clowry playing the didgeridoo.

While the organ was played, the procession of banners and school representatives were led out of the Cathedral by the Crucifer and Acolytes from St George’s Anglican Grammar School.

ASC SCHOOLS CONCERT

More than 300 students took part in the ASC Schools Week biennial concert held at the Perth Concert Hall on 3rd September 2021.

The talented student musicians were led by guest conductors Perry Joyce, Jonathan Tooby, Paul De Cinque, Jessica Herbert and Jasper Miller.

The audience was treated to a special performance, Boss Arts Kooloonga, by the Indigenous Student Ensemble following the Welcome to Country.

A variety of traditional and modern music groups performed on the night including auditioned and open ensembles. The auditioned groups consisted of the electronic ensemble, orchestra, rock band, stage band and select choir, while the open ensembles included the concert band, massed choir, percussion ensemble and string orchestra.