Approximately 500 students from 23 different music ensembles in 11 schools across Australia and New Zealand descended upon the Gold Coast from July 17-20 for the ASPIRE International Youth Music Festival, including St Andrew’s students who enjoyed competing alongside top young musicians internationally.
And while the St Andrew’s team performed well in the competitions with the Wind Ensemble placing first in the Concert Band section and the Jazz Orchestra placing second in the Jazz Band section, it was the opportunity to learn and grow musically that proved most valuable said Mrs Chelsey Eunson, St Andrew’s music teacher and Head of Bands.
“Throughout the three day festival, students had the opportunity to receive feedback from world renowned adjudicators, develop skills on their instrument through masterclasses and ensemble workshops where students work together as a team in various ways under the guidance of outstanding world class clinicians,” Chelsey said.
This was the second Aspire International Youth Music Festival, a unique event that combines competition with learning and development with a focus on global connectedness. This year the bar was raised with both the St Andrew’s Wind Ensemble and the Jazz Orchestra performing what Chelsey calls a “very difficult repertoire” which challenged “all” of the students.
“They rose to the occasion to perform at their very best and left all of us with a great sense of pride coming off stage,” she said.
“We had some very tough competition from another school, and while it ended in an incredible achievement, I was prouder of how well the students performed than the result. When they play at their very best I can’t ask for anything more. It fills me with an immense sense of pride for what our students can achieve.”
