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Music

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Music

St Andrew’s Cathedral School has a long, proud history of music education and choral skills. From its beginnings in 1885 as a school for the choir boys of the Cathedral, St Andrew’s has produced many fine musicians. It is the only Australian school to be a member of the Choir Schools Association in the United Kingdom.

Our approach to music education

  • Music is a significant and integral part of education offered at St Andrew’s Cathedral School.
  • Our aim is to provide students with a high quality Music education in a fun environment.
  • We promote and reward hard work and we continually strive to achieve the best results for each student.
  • We invite professional musicians to conduct workshops with our students to lift their performance to the next level – see video below:

First class facilities

The Music department contains classrooms and specialist instrumental teaching areas, as well as practice rooms for ensemble and individual teaching programs. More than 500 students undertake advanced instrument and/or choral tuition within the school. St Andrew’s Cathedral, the dedicated Fairfax Music Room, the Heath Centre and Town Hall Square are the major performance spaces utilised by students.

The school offers a range of individual and group lessons for various instruments including:

Recorder Trombone Acoustic/Electric Guitar
Flute/Piccolo Euphonium/Baritone Bass Guitar
Clarinet Tuba Drum Kit/Orchestral Percussion
Oboe Violin Piano/Organ/Harpsichord
Bassoon Viola Voice
Saxophone Cello Music Craft/Music Theory/Musicianship
French Horn Double Bass Composition
Trumpet Harp Electronic Music Production

The tuition costs associated with learning an instrument will vary depending on the instrument chosen and the level of achievement.

Below is a recording of our Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra rehearsing for the Evening of Celebration and Prizegiving in 2019.

Music ensembles and choirs

St Andrew’s provides students with many exciting opportunities to perform on a regular basis. Performances include soirees, music maestro concerts and lunchtime concerts, as well as musicals, Showcase concerts and international music tours.

There are more than 25 ensembles across the school. Membership of ensembles is open to all students who learn an instrument either inside or outside of the school or would like to be a member of a choir. These ensembles are graded so that each student can be placed into a group appropriate to their level of proficiency. Studio Soiree Concerts are held each term, allowing parents to see their child and other students perform.

Musicals

Musicals give students the opportunity to enhance their performing experience in a variety of theatres around Sydney. They are held every second year and are of a very high standard. Recent musicals have included:

Fiddler on the Roof, Parade Theatre, NIDA, 2019

The Wizard of Oz, Parade Theatre, NIDA, 2017

Peter Pan, Concourse Theatre, Chatswood, 2015

Beauty and the Beast, Parade Theatre, NIDA, 2013

Children of Eden, Parade Theatre, NIDA, 2011

Paris, Seymour Theatre Centre, 2009

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Sydney Square, 2008

Guys and Dolls, Seymour Theatre Centre, 2008

Les Miserables, St Andrew’s Cathedral Chapter House, 2007

Pirates of Penzance, Seymour Theatre Centre, 2006

Godspell, St Andrew’s Cathedral, 2005

West Side Story, Footbridge Theatre, 2003

Oliver, in association with St Vincent’s College, 1998

Upcoming performances are promoted in the school’s weekly newsletters.

Preparation for a career in music

The Music department at St Andrew’s provides a strong commitment to those wishing to excel in music. The school has a solid track record of excellence in the HSC, particularly in the Music 2 and Music Extension courses. Each year, several students choose to continue their music education at university.

Many of St Andrew’s students have gone on to establish successful careers as professional musicians including teaching, composing and performing. A number of former students play in orchestras around the world, many of whom are accomplished and award winning musicians.

The school maintains connections with the Old Andreans currently pursuing music related careers. This network extends internationally and enriches the Music program by providing students with career mentors, competitive work experience placements and opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of industry professionals.

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