Shalom College Chamber String Ensemble and College Choir invite the community to attend An Afternoon of Beautiful Music at the Holy Rosary Church this weekend.
To be held this Sunday October 20, starting at 2pm, the program includes a variety of music from inspiring classics to catchy contemporary works, and it will have something in it for everyone.
At this concert, the groups will celebrate their senior cohort who have been valued members of the music community at Shalom since 2019.
Long-serving Shalom Instrumental Music Instructor-Strings Teacher and Ensemble Conductor Mrs Bernadette Connolly said audiences would be delighted by the show.
“This concert features our Chamber String Ensemble and College Choir, as well as our male and female vocal ensembles, and all these groups are performing at their best after a year of fabulous music making,” Mrs Connolly said.
“They shone in the local eisteddfod in August, and they all received Gold awards at the Queensland Catholic Colleges Music Festival (QCCMF) at the end of term three.
“Our concert program will include a variety of music which is sure to have many remarkable moments.”
Mrs Connolly said it would also be a special time for those in year 12 who are graduating at their final concert with the college.
“It will be the final performance for all year 12 students in each of the groups, so it will be a very emotional time for everyone,” she said.
“Parents and teachers will be brimming with pride at what these students have achieved over their years at Shalom but at the same time, feel sad that it’s the end of an era.
“The students usually have mixed feelings of excitement for what is to come but sadness for what they are leaving behind.”
Mrs Connolly said the combined choir and string ensemble’s rendition of Paul Jarmin’s ‘Ancient City’ would be one of the stand-out pieces.
“The group’s performance of this work in the eisteddfod and at QCCMF received high praise and will not doubt be a crowd pleaser on Sunday,” she said.
“We are also excited to showcase our ‘Bass Cadets’, a male vocal ensemble which was formed just this year – they do a stunning rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’.”
Mrs Connolly said it was also exciting for all Shalom music teachers to hear the students playing and singing and know all the hard work they have put in is coming to fruition.
“Every year I wonder how our ensembles are going to survive losing the amazing year 12 students whom we inevitably lose each year, but every year our students rise to the occasion and make beautiful and exciting music all over again,” she said.
“This year is no exception. I am incredibly proud of what these young people have achieved throughout the year, and I look forward to sharing the fruits of their labour with our audience on Sunday.
“I tell people that I love what I do and it’s the truth, I feel very blessed to share this incredible journey with these young people, it truly is a privilege.”
Entry is by donation and all funds raised will be donated to the Isla Marschke Go Fund Me page.
