Overview
St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney is renowned for its long and illustrious music and choral history spanning three centuries.
The School was founded in 1885 to provide choristers for St Andrew's Cathedral with 'a high class education on Church principles, in addition to a musical training'. The School's founder, Dr Alfred Barry, sought to extend the School's musical philosophy by stating that a major operating factor should be, 'the study of music, not merely a technical training but an educational influence which is daily gaining in all thoughtful minds'.
St Andrew's musical development into the 21st century provides a model for educational growth while retaining the School's chorister traditions which form the foundation for St Andrew's world-class sacred music programme. St Andrew's is a member of the Choir Schools Association in the UK, the only school in Australia to hold such a distinctive accolade.
The School's music and performing standards are being constantly improved and broadened within the motto 'Music is fun" which expresses the School's desire to encourage all students to achieve their best while enjoying their journey of musical exploration. Individual performers as well as ensembles, groups and orchestras practise and perform at School and civic functions in addition to competing successfully in public eisteddfods and music competitions.
Commencing in Junior School, students are given an opportunity to learn a musical instrument as well as developing their knowledge and understanding in performing, organising sound and listening. The musical progress of students in Years 7 to 9 is closely monitored in line with each students' individual abilities and pace of learning. Gifted young musicians are attracted to the School's senior coeducational college because of the School's musical reputation, its high calibre, individual learning programmes coupled with the School's performance opportunities, master classes and repertoir development with visiting schools and leading musicians.
Remarkable music developments have occured in the last four years to:
- Expand the School's musical programme to achieve world-best performance standards for junior school and secondary-aged students;
- Increase the number of music groups, ensembles and orchestras with associated performance opportunities;
- Expand the School's master class programme to extend talented choral and instrumental performers;
- Open a new School of Music dedicated to achieve the highest standard of music tuition and teaching;
- Expand the overall School music programme so all students can experience the joy and fulfilment music offers;
- Undertake intrastate, interstate and overseas tours to broaden students' musical repertoire and create unsurpassed performance experiences.
