Music

A New Era for Music

2020 heralds a new era for the Music Department at St Aidan’s, now headed by Mrs Susan Figliano – Head of Music PAR and Ms Shannon Tobin – Head of Performance Music. Both Susan and Shannon are Old Girls of SSA schools and have had a long professional relationship dating back to their time performing together as members of the Queensland Youth Orchestra. Additional music staff, Mrs Margaret Hansen and Ms Nickea Warrener have also joined the St Aidan’s community as experienced curriculum and choral music directors.

Mrs Susan Figliano

Susan Figliano is a Brisbane-based musician and music educator. She graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 1995 where she studied clarinet performance under Floyd Williams and Paul Dean. She was a member of the Queensland Youth Orchestra for several years and toured nationally as member of various ensembles and chamber groups. After graduating, Susan taught privately and directed ensembles at many private schools around Brisbane before commencing further study in music education. Once qualified, she worked for Education Queensland as a classroom music specialist where she enjoyed much success building singing and choral programs. After completing Kodaly training in 2008, Susan went on to hold positions at Clayfield College and more recently at St Aidan’s.

Ms Shannon Tobin

Ms Shannon Tobin has taught in string programs at various schools across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast for over 20 years. Her first instrument was the cello and she quickly developed a passion for this instrument. She has a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium and a Master’s Degree in both Chamber Music and Orchestral performance from the Conservatorium of Music in Luzern Switzerland. Shannon plays cello in Camerata, Queensland Chamber Orchestra and has performed in various orchestras and ensembles across Australia and in Switzerland. She has always believed in passing on her love of music to the next generation through her teaching. Shannon has experience in teaching a wide range of students and levels both in individual tuition and ensembles, at schools and the wider community.

Mrs Margaret Hansen

Mrs Margaret Hansen is a graduate of The University of Queensland and has extensive teaching experience in the classroom from infants through to Year 12, along with piano teaching and choral conducting. She has taught in Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Margaret attributes her upbringing in Toowoomba with wonderful teachers as a key to her love of music. She plays piano, violin and throughout school also played Bassoon. Her passion for choral conducting began when she had the chance to conduct a choir as a Year 12 student at the Glennie School in Toowoomba. She has attended international summer schools to extend her Choral Conducting and has conducted a large range of choirs from Prep through to University College Choirs.

Ms Nickea Warrener

Ms Nickea Warrener has a Bachelor of Music in Classical Flute as well as a teaching degree. She thoroughly enjoys teaching in the classroom and conducting. Nickea conducts the “Lawrchestra Q” for students who wish to continue with their passion of music, whilst they are studying Law. In 2019, she also conducted the “Brisbane Combined Unions Choir”. Nickea also enjoys singing and was a chorister at St. John’s Cathedral for the past 7 years.

In addition to continuing the internationally recognised Kodaly program established by Dr Cuskelly, the new team are very much focused on the integration of curricular and extracurricular musical learning to enhance outcomes for all St Aidan’s girls. The team is committed to assisting girls to develop positive identities as musicians so they may apply their skills in many musical settings at school and beyond.

Let it be St Aidan’s Virtual Choir

Like so many businesses in the current climate, the Music Department have had to pivot their usual operations and embrace the ongoing uncertainty, creating beautiful music through the use of the many different types of technology available in 2020.

At the end of Term 2, the wider community was serenaded by the St Aidan’s choir – virtually – with a rendition of Let It Be by the Beatles.

Over 150 participants recorded their voices, which were then put together by a sound engineer, to create a masterpiece, which was visually accompanied by a slideshow of our students embracing learning from home.

You can scan the below QR code using your phone camera to view the video.

SCAN ME

It has been wonderful to have music performances with audiences (socially distanced) return to St Aidan’s in Term 3. The student performances have been outstanding and their confidence on stage is to be commended given the little time they have had for rehearsals. Congratulations to all girls who have performed in Term 3, we look forward to seeing more performances in Term 4.