Overview
Instrumental and Vocal Lessons are available, including Voice, Speech and Drama, Theory of Music and all instruments of the woodwind, string, brass and percussion families. Students are able to be prepared for external examinations such as AMEB and Trinity College.
Membership in most groups at the College is open, at the discretion of the Program Leader Co-Curricular Music. Students will be invited to join particular groups based on information regarding their skill levels obtained from their instrumental teacher, and/or via formal or informal auditions.
Music groups at the College participate in a range of performances throughout the year.
- Music Camp
- End of semester MusicFest 1 and 2 (All Groups Concerts)
- “Spirit of the Arts” Festival
- Chamber Music Soirees each term.
- College events such as Awards Night, Art Exhibitions, Liturgies
- External competitions and events such as QLD Catholic Colleges Music Festival
- External occasions such as Catholic Education Week, community liturgical events
Instrumental & Vocal Lessons
Mt St Michael's College is able to offer private instrumental and vocal lessons in the following subjects:
| Strings | Woodwind | Brass | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Violin
|
Piccolo
|
Euphonium
|
Piano
|
|
Viola
|
Flute
|
French Horn
|
Singing
|
|
Cello
|
Clarinet
|
Trombone
|
Drums
|
|
Double Bass
|
Oboe
|
Trumpet
|
Percussion
|
|
Guitar – Acoustic
|
Bassoon
|
Tuba
|
Group Percussion
|
|
Guitar – Electric
|
Saxophone
|
|
Theory of Music
|
|
Guitar – Bass
|
|
|
Speech and Drama
|
Biographical and contact details of Music Staff are available on request.
Students may undertake individual tuition in one or more instruments.
The College does have a limited number of musical instruments for hire.
College Choir
The Mt St Michael's College Choir is a non-auditioned group with members from Years 9-12.
The Choir has achieved a high standard of musicianship in previous years. Smaller vocal groups for special community and liturgical events are often drawn from this group.
The Mt St Michael’s College Choir is always an enjoyable and inspiring group to be in, and new members are always welcome. Participation in the choir is recommended for all instrumental students in order to develop their aural musicianship and ensemble skills.
Year 7-8 Choir
Year 7-8 Choir is a great way to start your co-curricular life at the College. Filled with your favourite songs from movies and musicals, rehearsals often include fun music games and dance moves.
Any Year 7 or 8 singers are invited to come along and give the choir a try. No previous singing experience is needed.
Senior Vocal Ensemble (SVE)
This auditioned small vocal group is usually comprised of older and more advanced singers of the College Choir (Year 10-12). They learn more challenging vocal repertoire, including often singing “a capella”. Their exciting performances are often enlivened by choreography and costumes, and the group is in demand as guest artists for College and community events.
The best preparation to achieving membership in the Senior Vocal Ensemble is consistent participation in choral part singing, either in the College Choir or external choral organisations. Private vocal lessons are recommended but not required.
MSM Singers
Information coming soon!
Audition Details
Students will be advised of audition details.
The Mt St Michael’s College Concert Band is a mixed instrumental ensemble that contains woodwind, brass and percussion instruments as well as percussion and drum kit. This group plays a diverse range of repertoire and performs at various College and external functions, such as ANZAC and Remembrance Day.
Occasionally the Concert Band joins with the String Orchestra to form the MSM Symphony Orchestra.
The Guitar Ensemble has been a great success since its inception. Their varied repertoire is a mixture of soft rock and pop arrangements, Spanish folk-style and Classical items. Acoustic guitars are played and both strumming and finger-picking techniques are utilised.
Music includes both traditional staff notation and Guitar TAB for chords and Bass Guitar. The group caters for all levels of learners from absolute beginners to more experienced musicians.
The Percussion Ensemble regularly wow MSM audiences with their prowess. Their repertoire is enhanced by the cultural riches of African hand-drumming, Japanese “Taiko” drumming techniques, and various other non-Western styles. Students need to apply to the Program Leader – Co-curricular Music to join this group. While the group is non-auditioned, typically students in the group are also taking percussion lessons. However, the group may be suitable for other intermediate level instrumentalists such as piano players who just love to feel the rhythm and the beat or who are wishing to improve their rhythmic skills.
String groups perform at end of semester concerts and liturgies, as well as further afield at the QLD Catholic College Festival, as well as occasional interstate tours.
String Ensemble
The String Ensemble is a medium-sized string chamber group of intermediate level players of violin, viola, cello and double bass, sometimes supported by piano. Repertoire is mainly classical and light popular arrangements. String students from Years 7-12 from beginner to intermediate level technique are welcome to join String Ensemble. Placement auditions will be held at the start and/or end of each year. Material to be presented for audition is a section of an own choice piece and a scale.
String Orchestra
The String Orchestra is a larger string ensemble of intermediate to advanced level players of violin, viola, cello and double bass. Repertoire is a mixture of classical and light popular arrangements. String students from Years 7-12 from intermediate to advanced level technique are welcome to join String Orchestra. Placement auditions will be held at the start and/or end of each year. Material to be presented for audition is a section of an own choice piece and a scale.
Senior Strings
Senior Strings is an auditioned group of more advanced players (usually Grade 4 AMEB or above) who perform both Classical and Baroque repertoire as well as modern arrangements, with and without a conductor.
Advanced Students usually from Years 9-12 may attend the audition. Material to be presented for audition is a section of an own choice piece, and a scale, as well as a brief “sight-reading” excerpt given a short time prior to the audition. Audition requirements will also be posted in Teams and on the Music Noticeboard.