Performance Music

The Music Department at St Mary’s is an exciting, expansive, and highly respected extra-curricular ensemble performance program for our students.

The ever-evolving and diverse music program allows students to experience the personal and public rewards of creating and performing high-standard music within many challenging yet stimulating settings. Between vocal, instrumental and ensemble programs, the Music Department handcrafts a plethora of unique and individual avenues for students to find their own voice and musical spirit.

Students are given a chance to perform across a variety of venues to hone their skills and gain a larger audience. The Music Department involves itself in many schools and broader community events, including Justice Day, College masses, school productions, classical, cabaret and jazz nights, Generations in Jazz (in Mt Gambier), Catholic Schools Music Festival, ABODA Band Festival, fundraising events and corporate and private functions amongst others. The Music Department also has access to St Mary’s Centre for the Performing Arts for more in-house performances and productions. The Centre includes a 300-seat theatre, six instrumental suites and rehearsal spaces with first-class facilities for our Instrumental Music Program.

Music Vocal / Instrumental Program

The Instrumental Music Program facilitates 280 lessons per week. Instrumental tutors at St Mary's College are experienced musicians. Students can select from a wide range of instruments; there are arrangements to hire instruments where necessary.

Instrumental lessons available:

Music Ensemble Program

The Music Department at St Mary’s College has developed an exciting and highly respected co-curricular ensemble performance program. This large and expanding program gives students an opportunity to experience the personal and public rewards of creating and performing music of a high standard in many challenging yet stimulating settings. Formal music ensemble participation is available to students from Years 2 to 12.

Ensembles available:

Music Tours

The Music Department engages in a series of music tours for students to further explore their creative talents and broaden their experiences. Some of these include Music Showcases, Instrumental and Vocal concerts both classical and contemporary, Generations in Jazz, ABODA festival, Adelaide Choral Eisteddfod, WATU Youth Choral Festival, Catholic Schools Music Festival, Gigs@thegate, Central Market gigs, School Productions, Justice Day, College masses, performance collaborations with other schools, fundraising events, and corporate and private functions. These are great opportunities for students to experience performing to a variety of audiences. 

A music tour St Mary’s has proudly upheld is the Music Department’s trip to Ireland. In 2009, students and staff of the Music Department embarked on our first music tour of Ireland. Held every three years, selected students and staff embark on a tour to visit and connect with the original school and convent of the seven Dominican Sisters who founded St Mary's College in 1869. The tour aims to reaffirm the College’s Dominican teachings by experiencing the history of St Mary’s, develop cultural and music ties within the Irish community and, most importantly, to perform at various Dominican schools and convents. The tour, amongst others, is a celebration of the exceptional talent pool of current music students at St Mary’s.

Participation in music tours is by a selection process and requirements of each ensemble.