On Wednesday the 19th of June, Woodville High School held their Music Showcase at Elder Hall, similar to our Music Spectacular. Brighton Chamber Orchestra (BCO) was invited to perform at their concert as guest artists. This was a good opportunity for us as it was our first time as an ensemble, performing to an audience, and a good practice run for Symphony by the Sea, which was happening a couple of days after. We performed our favourite pieces, ‘Waltzing Matilda’, ‘In the Dreams of Zhou’, and ‘Blue Rhythmico’! The whole night was lots of fun as we got to know each other as an ensemble better, but also got to know other musicians from Woodville High School and built connections with other music students!

On 18th of June 2024, music students in year 7 through 10 in Core and SIM music showed off what they had been working on for the past two terms. Showcase is a great opportunity for parents to come in and see their hard work in action. Each year level had a choir, band, string ensemble, and percussion ensemble. Two concerts were held one after the other each showcasing the awesome talent among our core and SIM students. It’s a great time for all that come and I have loved performing in it over the past 2 years. Keep up the hard work everyone and we’ll see you for next semester's showcase!

On the 9th and 10th of June, over the long weekend, the Adelaide Horn Jam took place at Elder Hall in the city! This was an engaging weekend, which gave me several opportunities to learn lots of new things, particularly about historical baroque horn. We had several jam sessions and played our horns as a big group. Who knew what so many horns put together sounded like! Anneke Scott, one of the world's best horn players, came in and gave us several information sessions on the baroque horn and how it works. We even had a workshop with her where we only played on our natural horn F side, and altered the pitch of the notes with our embouchure and hand position! Although it was an interesting and new experience, it left me chopped. I think I'll stick to the valves haha! It was an enjoyable weekend where I met many more talented horn players, and I’m excited to attend lots more Horn Days!

On Thursday 6 June, our 3 core choirs competed in the Adelaide Choral Eisteddfod with outstanding results amidst tough competition. Treble Choir - 3rd placeBel Canto - 2nd placeBrightones - 1st place Congratulations to all students and their directors and accompanists: Emma Borgas, Sue Rodger, Simone Brock, Luke Thompson & Rhys Williams. Thanks also to Georgie Simmons for her work with Bels last term.

On the 28th of May, students from Treble Choir, Brightones, Jazz Choir 1 and 2, and Bel Canto participated in the annual Winter Choral Concert. This free concert is a great opportunity for students in all extra-curricular choirs to perform to family and friends in a relaxed environment. This concert also serves as a final run through before Treble Choir, Brightones and Bel Canto compete at the Adelaide Choral Eisteddfod, giving students and directors time to reflect on how they can perform their best in these competitions. It was an amazing night with paper snowflakes made by students, biscuits to share, Mr Barrett's famous non-alcoholic mulled wine, and beautiful choral music.

The amazing talent of Brighton Secondary School’s pianists was showcased on May 21st at the Term 2 Piano Concert, 2024, in Brighton Concert Hall. Students from across all year levels performed a variety of genres from classical to jazz and pop, with some people even playing and singing! It was a great opportunity to show the pieces students have been working on in a relaxed environment for peers, teachers, and families. We look forward to next term’s concert and encourage more people to come and watch and play, as it is always an entertaining and inspirational event! Congratulations to all the performers!

From the 3rd-5th May, fifty-eight Brighton Music students and six of our wonderful teachers took the long bus ride to Mt. Gambier to participate in the Generations in Jazz festival. It was a great opportunity to come together with schools from all over Australia to immerse ourselves in a weekend full of jazz music! The fabulous nighttime concerts performed by Hot Potato Band, Coco’s Lunch and Sai Brothers, Kate Ceberano and Budjerah were fantastic for everyone to be inspired by professional musicians. Our Brighton ensembles included Big Band 1 and 2, Jazz Choir 1 and 2, and the Jazz Combo, with Big Band 2 and both Jazz Choirs placing third in their divisions, which was a record for Brighton! We are so proud of all of the students and teachers involved, with everyone agreeing it was the best we’d performed our repertoire. Everyone agreed it was an amazing weekend full of music, loud bus rides, lots of laughs, late nights, and money spent at McDonalds! More than just winning, it gave us an opportunity to improve our skills as individuals and within ensembles, working on the common goal as a team to get to GIJ and give it our best, and deepening our friendships with our fellow peers across year levels. Everyone walked out feeling more connected to the Brighton Music family.

On Friday 1 December Brighton's Sinfonia and Guitar Ensemble performed on the grounds of Minda as they observed IDPwD 2023. Students rehearsed new repertoire over the first 7 weeks of term 4 and put on a very enjoyable performance of traditional, contemporary and festive repertoire. Photos/video: Hannah Lewis and Ines Samic

In the week immediately after Music Spectacular, Brighton Secondary School’s Sinfonia and Big Band 2 took to the stage at Festival of Music. Sinfonia was the 2nd Assisting Artist for the evening where they performed Larry Moore's arrangement of the Deep Purple hit, Smoke on the Water which included a cello solo by Finn S. Big Band 2 (Assisting Artist 4) performed Mark Taylor's arrangement of That Old Black Magic which featured vocalist Sofia C, and Arina T on trumpet. https://youtu.be/0RV7Z_puatg https://youtu.be/lKpbhHAT9ug

On the 3rd of July, a brass quintet comprising members of the ASO performed a range of music for brass players and students as a whole. The performers played a range of pieces written for brass quintets and a West Side Story medley. After the performance, the students were split into four instrumental groups and were offered a workshop with the ASO members. These workshops were focused on improving players’ technique and improving their overall skills. I personally enjoyed the event and was able to make a new connection in the community. ~ Siân Watt

The Senior Solo Competition was held on the 21st of June, open to Year 11 and 12 students. As much as it was a competition, it felt more like a concert, with every place played to a very high standard and also a wide range of repertoire choices among the soloists. As a competitor from Year 11, it was a great opportunity to be able to play with the best in the school in a friendly environment, although there was competition. Mr Aungles was a fantastic adjudicator and was able to give very insightful feedback on how we could improve. Congratulations to Oliver (1st place), Olivia (2nd place) and Julie (3rd place)! ~ Joshua Tretheway

On Wednesday June the 14th 2023, Treble Choir, Brightones and Bel Canto, competed in the Adelaide Choral Eisteddfod. This event was held at Elder Hall in the city. This was an exciting night for these students who had been preparing for the competition all year. It was a successful night for Brighton, with Treble choir winning, Bel Canto tying first and Brightones coming in a close second. This night was a great opportunity for students to compete against other schools and see what they are doing. Some schools we were up against were Marryatville, Scotch College, and Cabra Dominican. ~ Finn Standish

On the 6th of June 2023, the 'Winter Choral Concert' took place in the concert hall. This concert provided an opportunity for extra-curricular choirs to perform to friends and family what they have been learning. This year the choirs that performed were, Jazz Choirs 1 & 2, Treble Choir, Brightones, Concert Choir and Bel Canto. A lot of the songs performed were ones that the choirs had sung at “Generations in Jazz” a few weeks before as well as songs that they would perform at Choral Eisteddfod the week after. This was an enjoyable night with snacks in the foyer and a chance to watch and support peers, family members and friends. ~Alex Collins

On Sunday the 21st of May 2023, Treble Choir was invited to sing at St Augustine's Anglican Church for members of the community. The concert featured many talented musicians from the community and other schools, playing a variety of instruments and styles. We performed three pieces that we have been working on this year; "Sea of Berries", "Into the Unknown" and "Best Friends". The concert gave us an opportunity to perform these before the upcoming Winter Choral Concert and the Choral Eisteddfod. It was great to hear so many performances, and it was an enjoyable experience for all. - Elinor Hughes

On Friday 5th May to Sunday 7th May, an amazing event “Generations in Jazz” was held. This annual event which takes place in Mount Gambier is a Jazz based competition which any school in Australia can participate in. This year it was held for the first time after 3 years of it being halted due to COVID. This was an awesome weekend with 60 students and teachers from our school from our 5 entered ensembles, Big Band 1 and 2, Jazz Choir 1 and 2 and Jazz Combo. I’m sure that almost everyone that was there can agree that it was one of the best weekends ever as it was full of fun. This trip had changed my aspect of how I see life like I have realised that days and trips like GIJ and the small moments like screaming Justin Bieber songs played by 'Dirty Loops’ or waking up at 5am with your best friends in Naracoorte are the moments we live for. I loved the supportive atmosphere among everyone when we were all performing. Massive shout-out to Thomas Monaghan on trombone and Amelie Sampson on Alto Saxophone for getting chosen for Div 1 Super-band and well done to Jazz Combo for coming third in their division! What an amazing weekend it was and I can’t wait to go back next year!

On Thursday 13th April 2023, “Jazz in the Quad” was held. As said in the name, this fun event was held in the school Quad. The ensembles going to Generations in Jazz were the ones that performed as well as some ensembles wanting some performance opportunities. These ensembles included Big Band 1, 2 & 3, Dixieland Band, Fusion, Jazz Combo and Jazz Choir 1 & 2. This was an enjoyable night in the quad which all families were invited to watch and listen to. It was a great opportunity to hear our peers play in their ensembles to prepare for the big competition in Mount Gambier, Generations in Jazz!

On Tuesday the 4th of April 2023, Jacki Cooper, an award-winning jazz singer who has worked with notable artists such as James Morrison and George Golla, came to our school to hold a workshop with our jazz choirs. The singers that attended the workshops learned many valuable skills, such as vocal control, scat improv and many more that are sure to help with our upcoming performances including Jazz in the quad and generations in jazz! Earlier in the day John Morrison worked with Big Band 1 and 2. He demonstrated elements of swing and gave students ideas to control their blending, balance and approach to preparation for rehearsals. Students benefitted from his amazing knowledge and wonderful stories. Manny C

On the 30th of March, a lunchtime Baroque performance was held in Brighton Concert Hall, free for any students and staff to come and watch. The performance included Brass Ensemble, Recorder Ensemble, Sinfonia, and Brighton Chamber Orchestra. It was great to see collaborations between the Recorder Ensemble and Sinfonia. The addition of the harpsichord really added to the Baroque flavour! Eve L

The 21st of February 2023 marked the first student-run senior piano concert held at Brighton Secondary School. An evening concert for parents and friends to watch, it showcased the talent of our piano students who usually only perform on their second instruments only. There were four performers: Olivia L performing Chopin’s Nocturne in C# minor no.20 and Songs Without Words op.102 no.4 in G minor by Mendelson, Amelia R performing Gade and Notturno by Grieg, Natalie W performing Canción by Falla, and Julie G performing Liebestraum by Liszt. This concert was a great experience for the performers to play solo in front of a small audience. We are hoping next concert there will be more performers ready and available to showcase more talent!

The Brighton Secondary Symphony Orchestra was once again invited to play at the annual SACE Merit Ceremony held at Government House on February 9th of this year. Despite the particularly hot day, the orchestra was able to overcome the weather and loaded the bus to travel to the venue, successfully performing our 30-minute program, featuring soloists Emily on trumpet for "Apollo 13" and Rosy on violin for "South Australia.” It was the orchestra’s role to provide atmospheric music for incoming guests arriving at the ceremony, which was a brilliant opportunity for students to experience a real-world “gigging” concert as part of an orchestra. A lot was learnt about the challenges of moving instruments, playing an outdoor concert, and having a transient audience, but also about the pleasure of playing a successful concert outside of school. Our musicians were also lucky enough to play with Brighton’s Old Scholars, Nic, Gina, Emily, Alevia, Victoria, Chris, Zoe, Matt and Damian, who supported our group with their skill and experience. With the additional role of performing the Vice-Regal Salute for the commencing of the ceremony, our brass players were delighted to form a combined brass ensemble comprising students of the four Special Interest Music Centres. This was a great opportunity to collaborate with other like-minded musicians. We were thrilled to be a part of such an important event, and felt proud to represent our school and community. We look forward to being invited to play at the annual merit ceremony in following years.