Introducing The 2023 Music Captain

Hi St Andrews! I’m Eva, your 2023 Music Captain. Music has always been a huge part of my life and even more so since I’ve joined the school. There’s just something about laughing and performing with friends and seeing incredible pieces come to life that fills my heart. It is truly one of the most beautiful gifts God has blessed us with. I’ll never forget being Kathy in last year’s musical, and through various other music events I’ve met people that have helped me learn and grow. Music at St Andrews has always been a supportive and comforting place for me to express myself, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to give back as well as develop the culture. I can’t wait for everyone to experience music for themselves here, stay tuned for all the exciting things we’ll be up to!

A Night of Tragedy and Triumph: Year 12 Theatre Studies Performs "Lear"

On Friday 28th April, the Year 12 Theatre Studies class performed their production of "Lear," a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's "King Lear." The play was an ambitious undertaking for the students, who were tasked with bringing the complex themes of the original text to life on stage.

With the help of the Year 11 Theatre Studies class, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes as the crew, the Year 12 students rose to the occasion and delivered a stunning performance that left the audience on the edge of their seats. The play explored themes of family, betrayal, power, and madness, and the students navigated the emotional terrain with skill and nuance.

The production was supported by set, prop, costume, lighting and makeup designs that the Year 12 class had crafted, which effectively conveyed the shifting moods and settings of the play.

The Year 11 Theatre Studies class, who served as the crew for the production, played a vital role in the success of the play.

The Year 12 students' hard work and talent, combined with the support of the Year 11 crew, were evident in every moment of the play, and the audience was left with a deeper appreciation for the enduring power of Shakespeare's works.

The Year 12 and Year 11 Theatre Studies classes can take pride in the knowledge that their hard work has created a memorable and impactful production, and we congratulate them all on their achievement!

Introducing New Bass tutor - Mr Andre Chen

Andre Chen is a bass player based in Melbourne. Before studying Jazz performance in Monash University, Andre had a long history of playing different instruments (guitar, ukulele, and bass), and played in bands with different styles (Rock and metal, Neo soul, Big band jazz and worship bands).

Coming from a self-taught background, Andre learned from many great bassists locally and internationally, such as Craig Strain, Ariane Cap, Jonathan Maron, Moto Fukushima, and Leanda Smith. Andre understands the frustration when learning the bass, and he can help the student from all the methods he learned during the years.

As a music teacher, Andre can teach double/electric bass, guitar, and Ukulele. He's also capable of supervising band rehearsals and youth ukulele groups.

He’s a current Bachelor of Music student in Monash (major in Double/Electric Bass). Also, he is an active participant in the worship team of the Crossway Cantonese Ministry (as the bass player, and sometimes as the band leader or the sound engineer).

Generations in Jazz 2023

This was my first time at Generations in Jazz and can I just say - wow. Being able to listen and learn from top Jazz musicians in Australia was both thrilling and inspiring. I’m so proud of the incredible work everyone in Jazz Band, Vocal Project and Vocal Ensemble put in, and it was incredible to perform on a stage in front of hundreds of other talented musicians. St Andrews’s future at GIJ is only going to grow from here, and I can’t wait to see our ensembles take the next step!

-Evangeline VCE4

GIJ was an incredible experience where not only were we able to perform at a national competition, but we were also able to see some of the most talented bands and vocal groups in Australia. Going to GIJ was a glimpse into the future of what our ensembles are capable of achieving. It has inspired us to keep pushing ourselves further in our musical journeys and created a sense of community and comradery amongst us. We have all thoroughly enjoyed not only competing, but enjoying the music that comes from the heart of every single musician at GIJ, who all have their own unique stories to tell, portrayed through their music. God has allowed us to express so many beautiful messages through music, and we are just so thankful to be able to glorify Him through the music that we create.

-Emily 10A

Going to Generations in Jazz for the first time was an amazing experience. As we travelled back and forth from places I got to make new friends and strengthen the ones I had. Going there showed me a fun competitive side of music, celebrating all the victories with our friends. The food, music, culture, concerts and expert workshops make it all the more exciting to go back next year and conquer the stage again with the vocal project, vocal ensemble and jazz band.

-Joel 8E