Providing our young musicians with

"real world" experiences at a corporate level


The Australian School of the Arts’ Performance Music Program boasts more than 30 ensembles that rehearse weekly, and we offer tuition to almost 600 students. We are privileged to teach some of the most outstanding school-age musicians in Queensland and, for this reason, we aim to retain a team of teachers who are ranked amongst the best in Australia.

"Being one of Australia’s leading Music Programs would mean very little if we weren’t committed to maintaining a vibrant and forward-thinking program that challenges young musicians to achieve the very highest standards, while never losing sight of the fact that music should always be fun."

Mr David Adelt, Head of Instrumental Music

"Foundational to our program is our aim to provide our young musicians with many and varied “real world” performance experiences, both within the College and at a corporate level."

Mr Adam Lopez, Head of Voice

In past years, we have provided ensembles for the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Ball, Governor’s Breakfast, Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Awards, 1st Test of the Ashes Series at the Gabba, live bands at the Australia vs France and Australia vs New Zealand Rugby Internationals, drumlines for the Brisbane Bullets and World Rugby League matches and we have provided the orchestra and choir for the Redland City Christmas Carols.

Eisteddfods and competitions are also part of the yearly program at Sheldon College providing our students with the incentive to rise to the next level in the pursuit of excellence. Our ensembles compete regularly on both the local and national stage and have won several National Titles.

For further information please download the Co-Curricular Performance Music Program PDF.
PERFORMANCE MUSIC PROGRAMS

PERFORMANCE MUSIC PROGRAMS

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Individual Music Tuition

Sheldon College students can receive individual or group tuition in any of the following areas:
StringsViolin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Woodwind Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone (Alto, Tenor, Baritone)
BrassTrumpet, French Horn, Eb Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba
PercussionEncompassing all tuned and untuned percussion (mallets, snare drum, drum kit, timpani, etc)
Drum KitFor students wishing to specialise in Drum Kit only. This is not offered as a part of the Year 4 Band Program
GuitarAcoustic, Electric and Bass Guitar (Rockschool)
Piano Classical Piano (AMEB / Trinity), Piano for Leisure (AMEB), Jazz Piano, Popular Piano
VoiceAll styles covered, from Musical Theatre to Popular to Classical. AMEB and Trinity exams are optional
Students can elect to learn privately (one-to-one) or in a group, but it should be noted that Piano and Drum Kit lessons are usually delivered in private/individual lessons.

Most lessons are during school time, but limited places are available for lessons before/after College, or during morning tea/lunch via negotiation with staff members.  

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Instrumental Music Program

The Woodwind, Brass and Percussion Program commences with our Year 4 Band Program and culminates with our Symphonic Winds, the senior of our 4 Concert Bands. Although given different names like Symphonic Winds or Wind Ensemble these groups are all concert bands, consisting of flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones (woodwind instruments) trumpets, french horns, trombones, euphoniums, tubas (brass), timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, aux percussion and keyboard percussion (percussion) along with double bass or bass guitar (string instruments).

The Strings Program commences in Year 3 during their classroom music with our Beginner Strings Program culminating in our Sheldon Strings and Symphony Orchestra. These ensembles include violins, violas, cellos and double basses. The Symphony Orchestra brings our string players together with the woodwind, brass and percussion students.

The Contemporary Music Program commences in junior college with our guitar and piano tuition programs and culminates with our Contemporary Music Ensembles including, Soul Band, Tension and Rock Bands. A number of these ensembles incorporate our talented, woodwind, brass and vocal students.

The Jazz Program has a wonderful reputation around Australia having competed Nationally with great success and having worked with renown Jazz Professionals such as James Morrison. Our Jazz Program commences in Grade 5 with our Jazz Ensemble, culminating with our Big Band and Dixieland Band where students are encouraged to develop their improvisation skills.

The Australian School of the Arts also provides our students with an extensive Chamber Music Program which aims to further extend the technical and musical abilities of our fine young musicians. This includes our Saxophone Quartet, Clarinet Quintet, Flute Choir, String Quartet and our Percussion Ensembles and Drumlines which have won several National Championships.

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The Vocal Program

Repertoire styles range from traditional Chorale works through to Contemporary and Pop.
Junior College Choirs
Melodic MinorsOpen to all students from Year 1
Harmonic MinorsOpen to all students from Year 2
Natural MinorsOpen to all students from Year 3
Manhattan Trans-foursThis choir is part of the Year 4 Band Program for all Year 4 students
Middle/Senior College Choirs and Vocal Groups Ensembles

This group is made up of Cap Guns (Middle College male choir) and Voiceworx (Middle College girls choir) and is open to all Middle College students.

Middle College ChoralThis group is made up of Cap Guns (Middle College male choir) and Voiceworx (Middle College girls choir) and is open to all Middle College students
Top GunOpen to all Male Students from Years 7 to 12
DawnThis is an all-female group which is available to students by audition only
EveThis is an all-female group which is available to students by audition only
Senior College ChoraleOpen to all students from Years 9 to 12
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Year 4 Music Program

At Sheldon College, we believe wholeheartedly in the benefits of studying a musical instrument and singing in a choir. It is well documented that musical study helps develop both sides of the brain and it contributes in a large way to the development of emotional intelligence.

Therefore, at Sheldon College we provide every student the opportunity to study a musical instrument through our compulsory Year 4 Music Program where they receive a 30 minute lesson on their chosen instrument, a 30 minute Choral workshop (choir) and a 40 minute ensemble experience (rehearsal).

Students are tested in Year 3 to determine those areas in which they are most musically proficient. They are then enrolled in lessons on a Woodwind, Brass, Percussion or String instrument. Students already undertaking guitar or piano tuition at the College prior to Year 4 may choose to continue with these lessons as part of the Year 4 Program or may choose to receive lessons on a band instrument.

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Performance Highlights

Symphonic Winds are the flagship ensemble at Sheldon College and are called upon to perform at every major school event including Senior Induction, Anzac Day Ceremony, Middle and Senior College Celebration of Excellence and regularly at our weekly assemblies. Their feature performance every year is at our Night at the Movies event.

Wind Ensemble continue to develop their performance skills every year with performances on assembly. Their major performances for the year are at the Sheldon College Arts Festival and Junior College Celebration of Excellence.

Concert Band feature every year on assembly and at our Sheldon College Arts Festival.

Symphony Orchestra brings together our woodwind, brass, percussion and string students together and they perform on assembly, Night at the Movies and the Sheldon College Arts Festival.

Big Band are one of the busiest ensembles at Sheldon College performing regularly at our weekly assemblies and at our annual Jazz Night. They are regularly invited to perform at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Launch Day, Essentially Ellington Festival, Fiesta Latina in Roma Street Parklands, the Manly Jazz Festival and feature at our annual Night at the Movies event.

Soul Band are one of the most popular ensembles at Sheldon College performing regularly on assembly as well as at major events such as our Contemporary Music Night, Arts Academy Awards Dinner, Sports Awards Dinner, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Launch Day, Bond University Open Day and Night at the Movies.

Tension perform regularly on assembly as well at major events such as our Contemporary Music Night and Night at the Movies.

Rock Band are very popular at Sheldon College performing regularly on assembly as well as at our Contemporary Music Night, Night at the Movies and Sheldon College Arts Festival.

Sheldon Strings perform regularly on assembly as well as at special occasions such as Anzac Day Assembly and Night at the Movies. They also feature at the Sheldon College Arts Festival.

Percussion Ensemble I and II are both extremely successful and busy ensembles with regular assembly performances as well as performances at major events such as Night at the Movies and Middle and Senior College Celebration of Excellence. Both ensembles travel interstate every year to compete at the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod where they have both taken out several National Titles.

Percussion Ensemble III performs regularly on assembly and compete regularly at the QLD Percussive Arts Eisteddfod where they have taken out first place on several occasions. This ensemble also features at the Junior College Celebration of Excellence and Sheldon College Arts Festival.

Drumline I feature every year at the Cleveland Anzac Day Parade. They also perform yearly at the Royal National Agricultural Show (RNA) and travel interstate to compete at the National Drumline Competition where they have won the National title on a couple of occasions.

Drumline II perform regularly on assembly as well as at the annual Sheldon College Sports Awards. They also feature at the Sheldon College Arts Festival every year.

Clarinet Quintet, Flute Choir and Sax Quartet perform regularly on assembly and feature at our annual Night at the Movies event.

Senior College Choral is often called upon to perform at most major school events including Senior Induction, ANZAC Day, Middle and Senior College Celebration of Excellence as well as performing regularly at our weekly College assemblies. They also feature each year at our Night at the Movies.

Eve is one of our most popular choirs and is made up of our most talented Senior College female vocal students and is audition based. This choir often perform at major school events including Senior Induction, ANZAC Day, Middle and Senior College Celebration of Excellence, Night at the Movies and our yearly Jazz Night and perform regularly at our weekly College assemblies. They have also over the years performed at many high profile external events which has provided the students with some real life experiences in a professional setting.

Top Gun is our all male senior choir and they perform each year at Night at the Movies as well as regular weekly College assemblies. They often will also perform at some of the College’s major events including Middle and SeniorCollege Celebration of Excellence.

Middle College Choral is made up of our Middle College male students (also known as Cap Guns) and Middle College female students (also known as Voiceworx). Performances for these groups will sometimes be on an individual basis i.e. Voiceworx or Cap Guns but they will also perform at many College events as a combined choir (Middle College Choral). The group will perform at our Night at the Movies and Junior College Celebration of Excellence and at regular weekly Assemblies. They also feature at the Sheldon College Arts Festival.

Dawn is an all female Middle College Choir and is made up of our most proficient female singers from Middle College and is audition based. They perform at our regular weekly assemblies and also feature at the Sheldon College Arts Festival.

Junior Choirs are open to all Junior College students from Years 1 – 4 as an extension of their classroom music and they feature at our regular weekly College assemblies. At various other major College events some of the groups will perform an these include Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Junior College Celebration of Excellence and Year 1 Spring Spectacular. They also feature at the Sheldon College Arts Festival.

SYMPHONIC WINDS LAURENCE OF ARABIA

ARTS ACADEMY AWARDS 2019 GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

Contact Us

For further information about the Performance Music Program, please email [email protected] or call us on (07) 3206 5552.