Participating Schools - Rhapsody Rotorua

2019 Australian participating schools

Mentone Girls' Secondary College

Mentone Girls’ Secondary College is a government girls’ school in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. The school has a strong music program, with music offered as a core and elective subject. It is a largely ensemble-based music program. 5 of these ensembles are featured at Rhapsody Rotorua in 2019. These are the Symphonic Band, the Stage Band, the Funkadelics, the Senior Strings and the Madrigal. This is the first international music tour for Mentone Girls’ Secondary College and will hopefully begin a tradition of Senior Music Tours into the future.

Como Secondary College

Como Secondary College is a co-educational government high school situated in Western Australia, and currently has approximately 850 students from Years 7 to 12. Como Secondary College has a Specialist Jazz Music Program that was established to encourage young music talent and raise the profile of music in the community. Music making is a performance art and at Como we firmly believe that students learn musical concepts more effectively by performing. Working hard as a part of a disciplined team, the students perform music in a range of styles, make rewarding friendships, contribute to community performances and perform in local, state and national festivals. As a result the program has a reputation in Western Australia for excellence in performance.

The Como Secondary College Senior Concert Band participated in the 2015 Rotorua Rhapsody and students enjoyed the experience so much we have returned in 2019 bringing four ensembles, consisting of students mainly from years 9-11. The Senior Concert Band, the Senior Stage Band, the Junior Stage Band and the Vocal Ensemble are very excited to be part of such a wonderful music festival and each ensemble are excited to present their debut performance

Trinity Christian School

Trinity Christian School is an Independent school in Canberra that provides a robust Christian education from Preschool to Year 12. Our campus includes indoor and outdoor learning spaces, sporting facilities, a library and resource centre, a commercial kitchen, and a purpose-built Trade Skills Centre. As a School, Trinity is committed to equipping students to live meaningful lives in and outside the classroom. We are a learning centred school, focusing on the learner and the learning. We provide opportunities for all students to grow academically and mature in faith and service.

At Trinity Christian School, we truly believe that creative arts and music should be available to everyone. From Kindergarten onwards, we deliver a strong Music curriculum as well as many co-curricular and enrichment activities. We offer a large variety of ensembles, choral and performance opportunities.

Rhapsody Rotorua 2019 will be the second time Trinity Christian School has participated in the festival, having last entered in 2013, as well as having toured Brisbane in 2015 and Melbourne in 2017.

Carine Senior High School

Carine Senior High School is an Independent Public School and school of choice in the northern suburbs of Perth. We cater for students from Year 7 to Year 12 with our current student population totaling 1861.

Carine SHS offers Dance, Drama and Music from Years 7-12. Students enrolled in the Arts can audition to participate in our bi-annual productions and music tours. Past productions have included “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Wizard of Oz.” Past Music Tours have included Singapore, Malaysia and Sydney International Festival.

There are approximately 250 music students from Years 7-12 in the music department which was established in 1973, each accessing group instrumental tuition and ensemble performance each week. Many of our students are involved in more than 2 ensemble rehearsals each week. This year will see our music students participate in our 14th bi-annual international music tour to New Zealand: Rhapsody Rotorua for the first time.

Carine SHS is represented at Rhapsody Rotorua by the following performance ensembles: Senior Concert Band, Orchestra, Senior Choir, Jazz Band and a Contemporary Band.

Rockhampton Girls Grammar School

Girls Grammar is an independent non-denominational school for girls offering day and boarding facilities for the continuous education of students from Prep to Year 12 with boarding from Year 6. Our students come from diverse backgrounds across the state, the Northern Territory and internationally.

Rockhampton Girls Grammar School is dedicated to providing students with a comprehensive and extensive music program. An understanding, appreciation and love of music is something students can take with them through their lives and we aim to build students’ confidence and self-esteem, through music performance opportunities.The school has a renowned program including choirs, wind ensembles, chamber groups, string ensemble and various other small groups. Students can be involved in these various ensembles as well as having the opportunity to participate in private tuition with experienced and motivated studio teachers.

This is Rockhampton Girls Grammar 3rd appearance at the Rhapsody Rotorua Music Festival. This year there are 4 groups taking part in the festival. Molti Voce (Senior Choir), Bella Voce (small vocal group), the Small Wind Ensemble and the Flute Choir.

St George Girls High School

St George Girls High School is an academically selective girls high school situated in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. We have a thriving music program consisting of over 250 students participating in over 16 large and small performing ensembles. Students are also able to receive instrumental lessons on a broad range of instruments by one of 17 Specialist Music Tutors. Our students regularly engage in a number of performance opportunities, including our annual Gala Music Evening in July and Summer Music Festival in December, as well as concerts and competitions across Sydney including The Arts Unit In Concert, Sydney Eisteddfod, Engadine Music Bandfest, and the NSW Schools Band Festival.

For the 2019 Rhapsody Rotorua we formed a NZ Concert Band, Orchestra, Chamber Strings and Percussion Ensemble. The tour was offered to all students in our Performing Ensembles in Years 7 to 12 across a wide range of instruments, including brass, woodwind, strings, and percussion. We have chosen a mix of classical and contemporary repertoire to connect with our audiences, and allow students to have the most enjoyable time whilst they are performing. One of the highlights of our program is an arrangement of “La Tregenda” by Puccini, and a string arrangement of the hit pop song, “Handclap” from Fitz and Tantrums.