Humans of Carey: Jamie Holmes

Year 12 student

It’s funny to think that I’ve been part of the Carey community for 13 years, even since that first day strolling into Prep at Donvale. I owe so much to my time here, especially considering the top-tier music program we have. The ensembles Carey offers, be it jazz bands, wind bands, choirs or orchestra, were a huge part of my Carey experience, and I feel properly lucky to be surrounded by like-minded musicians and such passionate staff.

Recently I had the privilege of being invited to perform with the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra as a featured young artist on alto sax. Melbourne has a vibrant live music scene, and the Paris Cat was already a favourite venue of mine, so it was a proud moment to be able to perform there. To share the stage with some world-class Melbourne musicians was nothing short of thrilling. It’s a special, yet indescribable, feeling when you’re on stage, performing with people you respect, creating music you love. With any luck, I’ll be back again.

The Paris Cat gig was just one of many musical highlights sprinkled across my time at Carey. I was also lucky to be able to organise a non-profit studentrun performance night with my fellow Performing Arts Captains, dubbed as Picnic in the Quad. Armed with a group of student ensembles, we put on a show to raise money for Support Act on a Friday night to a modest yet hugely lively and supportive crowd. It’s these precious memories, little pockets of happiness, that I think I’ll really miss when Year 12 is over.

People know me as a bit of a music nerd. Outside of school you’ll usually find me in my mini home studio producing or messing with some sort of sound, composition or beat. It’s where I go to escape, and simple pleasures like that have been instrumental (pun intended) in keeping me going through times like the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Post-school, music is definitely a contender for my intended career. Currently I’m looking a double-degree in music and law. Thankfully, with such a breadth of universities available, and the well-rounded education I’ve already received, I can keep my options relatively open.

Thank you to everyone who has supported, motivated and, most importantly, put up with me, particularly as a musician. A couple names that spring to mind are my instrumental teacher, James Bradley, and Jazz Band Conductor, Roger Schmidli, with whom I was able to share my invaluable Paris Cat experience. Also Sally Davis, Martin Arnold and Daniel Neal, all of whom continue to support my passion and I am overwhelmingly grateful to these fine folk. With only a couple weeks left of Year 12, it feels like the end of an era, but I’m quietly, or not so quietly, excited about what’s to come in the future.