Music

The St Catherine’s Band Showcase demonstrated the musical talents of over 100 girls across Years 3–12, and included performances from our concert bands, jazz bands, rock band and a wide range of chamber ensembles. We welcomed back Dr John Lynch, leading USA conductor, Associate Professor and Conductor of the Conservatorium Wind Symphony at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The symphonic winds were delighted to take part in a one-hour workshop with Dr Lynch and perform with him in the showcase. Another highlight was the first performance by our rock band, playing Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis, and the newly formed double reed ensemble performing Walking Tune, arranged by David Bussick. Katia Geha and music prefect Alexandra Bradley were master of ceremonies for the evening, and special thanks to Ms Lisa McCowage, our head of wind, brass and percussion.

Performing with the wider community

St Catherine’s has a partnership with the Australian Chamber Orchestra as part of their National Education Program. This partnership established a cultural exchange program between St Catherine’s and St Marys North Primary School, providing opportunities for music and friendship activities between the schools and complementing the music education program established at St Marys North Primary School in 2015. Students from both schools participated in concerts and workshops, and the students from St Marys North Primary School visited us this year.

Salaka Drumming

Year 7 experienced the music of Africa through drumming and singing when Salaka Drumming visited our school to support the curriculum focus on ‘Music of a Culture’, in Term 1. All the girls were able to perform on djembes and build rhythmic compositions that were then intertwined with dances. The girls had an enjoyable session, led by two talented presenters.

Years 8–10 music and Year 9 drama students attended the musical Jersey Boys at the Capitol Theatre. Students and staff were entertained by the catchy tunes of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, including Walk Like a Man, Sherry and Bye Bye Baby. It was an enjoyable night for all.

Senior school musicians attended a series of three concerts with the late Richard Gill and the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra. Music from both the past and present was performed, with explanations provided by Mr Gill, one of Australia’s pre-eminent music educators, who sadly passed away in late October.

Our wind band and junior band headed to Kogarah for the Engadine Band Festival at the end of Term 2. Both ensembles performed exceptionally well and were awarded gold in their respective categories by adjudicator Cathy Chan.

As part of the Essentially Ellington program, the St Catherine’s big band travelled to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to perform for Jerome Jennings, a clinician from Jazz at Lincoln Centre, New York. The big band performed three pieces: An Ellington Tribute, Lady of the Lavender Mist and Cubano Chant. Jerome has a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School in Manhattan, New York and in 2017, became resident director of the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra. Performing, listening to other school big bands and the private workshop with Jerome were highly inspiring experiences.

The end of Term 3 marked the time to farewell our departing Year 12 students. These musicians put in countless hours performing with the choirs, orchestra, bands and string orchestras, as well as touring to Europe and performing at NIDA in musicals.

Antonia Boulton – Symphonic winds; big band; silver badge

Kristina Boulton – Symphonic winds; silver badge

Alexandra Bradley – Symphonic winds; senior orchestra; bronze badge

Jolie (Jessica) Cheung – Symphonic winds; chapel band; bronze badge

Paris Francis – Senior orchestra; string orchestra; senior choir; a cappella; platinum badge

Joon Hee (Julia) Lim – Senior orchestra; string orchestra; gold badge

Eloise Reddy – Senior orchestra; string orchestra; senior choir; platinum badge

Xun (Teddy) Zuo – Senior orchestra; percussion ensemble; bronze badge

Platinum – Katia Geha (oboe); Aisling Harrison (violin); Sophie Lui (oboe); Jasmin Yip (violin)

Gold – Saranya Agar (flute); Elisabeth Cola (double bass); Joon Hee (Julia) Lim (violin); Katherine Petsoglou (violin); Isabella Pinter (flute); Georgina Rafferty (bassoon); Rebecca Rosenberg (french horn); Junias Tjanaria (viola)

Silver – Antonia Boulton (clarinet); Kristina Boulton (saxophone); Eleni Cole (cello); Elena McEwan (french horn); Renee Stavroulakis (clarinet); Ellen Zhang (violin)

Bronze – Cleo Baldwin (percussion); Luella Beaumont (clarinet); Emily Hinwood (bassoon); Dominique Leeming (saxophone); Annette Ong (violin); Eeshani Parameswaran (trumpet); Sophia Pinter (percussion); Grace Porter (clarinet); Lauren Roberts (violin); Sophia Zhang (oboe); Xun (Teddy) Zuo (percussion)

Stage 3 music excellence

Platinum – Melanie Kang; Amelia Kim; Julia Mallam; Sophia Markovic; Zoe Tinellis

Gold – Charlotte Gibbs; Isobel Killcross

Silver – Ruby Marshall; Bethany Rodriguez

Bronze – Anika Bradford; Lucinda Evans; Chloe Grant; Isabel Hathorn; Isabella McIntosh; Ariel Vivian; Jazz Wilson

Stage 2 music excellence

Platinum – Christabella Chow; Eliza Cook; Cerise Platt; Olivia Zhang

Gold – Shen Liang (Mandy) Chi

Silver – Antonia Lin; Summer Jedlicka-Trennery; Isabel Thompson; Han Ya (Hanya) Yang

Bronze – Ava George; Caroline Lin

Stage 1 music excellence

Silver – Sophia Chen

Bronze – Isabella Legge; Zara Todd

Junior school winning house: Patterson

Mr D Gresham, Katia Geha (Year 11) Band Captain, Alexandria Bradley (Year 12) 2018 Music Prefect, Eleni Cole (Year 9) String Captain, Isabella Pinter (Year 11) Orchestra Captain and Georgina Rafferty (Year 11) Choir Captain

FRONT ROW: Mackenzie Hansen, Alice Lee, Jasmine Ong, Emily Dingle, Sophia Rikard-Bell, Bella McGeechan, Ashleigh Doran, Madeleine Griffiths, Alicia Kim, Bethany Ling, Isobel Killcross

SECOND ROW: Ms L. McCowage (Conductor), Zoe Tinellis, Sophia Voigt, Acacia Ngu, Molly Macneal, Semi Kim, Sarah Teitler, Elenor Craven, Patricia Hardas, Pati Harbilas, Julia Mallam

THIRD ROW: Eden Timbery, Sophia Zhang, Eeshani Parameswaran, Ya (Priscilla) Gao, Ella Johnston, Grace Porter, Anna Yang, Evelyn Rock, Ella Berckelman, Emily Lim

FRONT ROW: Annette Ong, Emily Hinwood, Sarah Myatt, Taylor Galea, Patricia Hardas, Sophie Lui, Emily Beckley, Alicia Kim, Sophia Voigt, Jasmine Ong

SECOND ROW: Dr H. Belling, Georgina Rafferty, Asha Raghav, Luella Beaumont, Melanie Chan, Isabella Meyrick, Caitlin Wong, Julia Mitnovetski, Scarlett Miller, Katia Geha

THIRD ROW: Aisling Harrison, Nicolette Walker, Saranya Agar, Isabella Pinter, Elena McEwan, Eleni Cole, Rebecca Rosenberg, Sacha Brown, Junias Tjanaria, Isabella Plaisted

FRONT ROW: Katia Geha, Annette Ong, Ellen Zhang, Jasmin Yip, Katherine Petsoglou, Eloise Reddy, Paris Francis, Sophie Lui

SECOND ROW: Mr D. Gresham, Emily Hinwood, Aisling Harrison, Junias Tjanaria, Melanie Chan, Georgina Rafferty, Sophia Voigt, Elisabeth Cola

THIRD ROW: Renee Stavroulakis, Alexandra Bradley, Isabella Pinter, Olivia Kinnaird, Elena McEwan, Sophia Pinter, Eleni Cole

FRONT ROW: Jenny Kaing, Charlotte Wadds, Annette Ong, Caitlin Wong, Hannah Cheung, Emily Allton, Erini Kiousis, Sophia Kelley

SECOND ROW: Ms H. Cush, Shen Liang (Mandy) Chi, Molly Stening, Constance Skeffington, Charlotte Skeffington, Melanie Kang, Amelia Kim

THIRD ROW: Nicolette Walker, Evie Cook, Tara Hercz, Eleni Cole, Junias Tjanaria, Sarah Myatt, Jamie Podmore Taylor

FRONT ROW: Jasmin Yip, Katherine Petsoglou, Lauren Roberts, Aisling Harrison, Paris Francis

SECOND ROW: Ms H. Cush, Melanie Chan, Eleni Cole, Junias Tjanaria

FRONT ROW: Sophie Lui, Eden Timbery, Jolie (Jessica) Cheung, Alexandra Bradley, Kristina Boulton, Renee Stavroulakis, Saranya Agar, Eva Nicolaou, Yunqi (Tara) Dai, Katia Geha

SECOND ROW: Ms L. McCowage (Conductor), Cleo Baldwin, Emily Hinwood, Luella Beaumont, Rebecca Rosenberg, Aisling Harrison, Eeshani Parameswaran, Georgina Rafferty, Antonia Boulton, Elisabeth Cola

THIRD ROW: Anna Yang, Sophia Pinter, Isabella Pinter, Grace Porter, Jamie Podmore Taylor, Olivia Kinnaird, Elena McEwan, Junias Tjanaria, Sophia Zhang

FRONT ROW: Eliza Cook, Chloe Grant, Mika Selden, Aida Lloyd, Bianca Kelley, Shen Liang (Mandy) Chi, Isabel Thompson

SECOND ROW: Ms H. Cush, Cate Darling, Sophia Markovic, Holly Negas, Josie Khoo, Melanie Kang, Isabella McIntosh, Amelia Kim

THIRD ROW: Clementine Hutchinson, Julia Mallam, Molly Stening, Willow Pratley, Samantha Debelle, Kimmi Bilmon, Clarissa Ling

FRONT ROW: Tara Williams, Ophelia Heywood, Lillian Oranje, Olivia Zhang, Bianca Wong, Phoebe Garcia, Sashi Mason, Karyn Ling

SECOND ROW: Emily Canning-Smith, Blayke Piggins-Massaad, Piper Pratley, Grace Walley, Evie Lloyd, Koko Rikard-Bell, Annabelle Guo

THIRD ROW: Ms L. McCowage, Summer Jedlicka-Trennery, Christabella Chow, Viva Coyle-Beeche, Phoebe Ruffa, Evie Bayot, Antonia Lin, Ruby Hughes

JUNIOR CHOIR

FRONT ROW: Karyn Ling, Claudia Lynam, Mia Caredes, Ruby Colin, Ophelia Heywood, Olivia Zhang, Anita Jazzini, Isabella van den Brink, Isobel Killcross, Sashi Mason, Safira Sutarto, Jasmine Zhang, Lara Wong

SECOND ROW: Mrs V. Gilmour, Eliza Cook, Bianca Wong, Han Ya (Hanya) Yang, Antonia Lin, Clementine Jenkins, Koko Rikard-Bell, Summer Jedlicka-Trennery, Caroline Lin, Melanie Kang, Florence Vinnell, Codie Rigby, Miss T. Chung

THIRD ROW: Emily Jackson, Cerise Platt, Margot Ruffa, Alice Aitken, Kate Wu, Angelique Elfes, Gabriella Mata Rohe, Tessa Allen, Lucinda Connell, Jamie Meyerson, Sienna Dole

FOURTH ROW: Amelia Kim, Kimmi Bilmon, Sophia Markovic, Zoe Tinellis, Isabel Hathorn, Jazz Wilson, Christabella Chow, Julia Mallam, Lucinda Evans, Phoebe Ruffa

ABSENT: Katherine Budden, Ruby Congdon, Charlotte Gibbs, Annabelle Guo, Bethany Rodriguez

PRELUDE STRINGS

FRONT ROW: Dominique Cullen Feng, Rediva Chan, Edie Molesworth, Florence Vinnell, Eliza Cook, Amelie Fletcher, Ophelia Heywood

SECOND ROW: Ms H. Cush, Blayke Piggins-Massaad, Shen Liang (Mandy) Chi, Abigail Brealey, Ava George, Cerise Platt, Miss T. Chung

ABSENT: Isabella Legge

FRONT ROW: Gabrielle Subrata, Lillian Trennery, Zara Todd, Sophia Chen, Mikhaela Milios, Ava Dewar, Zara Ashley, Evangeline Jazzini

SECOND ROW: Mrs V. Gilmour, Gabrielle Brown, Nikoletta Veneti, Harriet Hathorn-Jarman, Alyssa Savva, Leonor Aguilar Contente, Ella McDonald, Miss T. Chung

WIND BAND

FRONT ROW: Ariana Fermanis, Tilly Shorter, Eliza Watt, Ariel Vivian, Anita Jazzini, Isla Mazor, Isobel Killcross

SECOND ROW: Mackenzie Hansen, Kimmi Bilmon, Eva Johnston, Zoe Yu, Ruby Doyle, Amelia Kim

THIRD ROW: Ruby Marshall, Melanie Poulos, Darcy Connell, Zoe Tinellis, Georgia Middleton

ABSENT: Mr D. Gresham, Anika Bradford, Charlotte Gibbs, Julia Mallam