A widely anticipated music event each year is the Combined Band Event which invites young brass and woodwind instrumentalists from schools around Geelong to spend an afternoon playing music together.

This year was even more anticipated than usual, as the 2020 event had unfortunately been cancelled. On Thursday May 27, from 2.00 - 7.00pm the Music staff at St. Ignatius College took on the enormous task of bringing the bands of Sacred Heart, Clonard, St. Joseph’s College, Covenant College, and Belmont Secondary College together in one space under the expert baton of one conductor. This year’s guest Conductor was Geelong trumpeter and composer, Ed Fairley who immediately created a rapport with his young musicians and led them through productive rehearsals of the two chosen pieces.

Rehearsals began at 2.00pm and the musicians worked hard on their music until a delicious pizza and donut meal was served later in the afternoon. Then it was back into the auditorium for a warm up and an entertaining concert for parents, staff and friends.

Sacred Heart instrumentalists included students from the Prelude Ensemble, led by Martin Greet and from our College Orchestra which is directed by Allister Cox. These students displayed wonderful attitudes of communication and collaboration, which made them excellent ambassadors for the College and for our music program.

To hear the rich and thrilling sound of over 100 instrumentalists playing together is an overwhelming and inspirational experience, and one which will no doubt remembered by each player for a long time to come. We are already looking forward to attending this event next year!

Here are some student reflections of the day:

I liked getting to know other musicians at the event. The music was really nice when it all came together – it sounded different to when we rehearsed on our own. - Isobel Eastmure 9SISBK

I found it a very valuable experience. I enjoyed getting together with other fellow instrumentalists of all different levels to play and have fun. - Hayley Hunt 10 PAAAH

I really enjoyed meeting new people who have the same interests, and it was a really fun experience. I would love to attend again next year. - Charmaine Turner 9LOKEM