Choir
Our choirs are split into two groups, junior and senior, and are comprised of students from grade 1-2 and 3-6 respectively. Rehearsals occur once a week, and feature a diverse range of songs for the students to engage with. Our rehearsals are heavily focused on the practical elements of singing and the art of performing. Performances range from school assembly items, to public gatherings and interschool competitions. A 'team approach' and an inclusion of others is fostered and heavily encouraged, in everything we do together, along with a sense of having fun and enjoying singing!
Strings
A delivery of an additional 'excellence' program in music, is found in the form of our String program, which has grown from just 18 students when it started in 2018, to 40 students currently learning to play the VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO or DOUBLE BASS. This program is offered to selected students who show musical aptitude and a responsible attitude to learning. In Strings we offer the opportunity to learn to play an orchestral instrument in a small group lesson once a week and also to participate in one of two String Ensembles (orchestras) which also rehearse every week.
To date, our Ensembles have performed at the bi-annual QLD Fanfare Festivals collecting Gold Awards and have placed 2nd at Eisteddfods, where they compete on the Gold Coast against other school groups (including from the private sector). We are very proud of our amazing strings students who represent their school with excellence!
Cathryn Morris teaches at Picnic Creek on Fridays. Mrs Morris studied violin performance at the Royal College of Music in London and has played professionally in orchestras and chamber groups in England, New Zealand and Australia. Throughout her career she has taught students of all ages (up to 84 years old!) and across all levels from beginners to diploma level. Mrs Morris now calls the Gold Coast home and loves to see her Picnic Creek students develop as musicians and become confident performers.
Students are eligible to be enrolled in Strings at the start of Year 3. Expressions of Interest are collected towards the end of Term 3 from students in Year 2 and a selection process involving input from the classroom teacher, the music teacher and testing by Mrs Morris results in offers being made before the end of the year for students to start when they enter Year 3. Instruments are available for hire from the school for all students who do not wish to purchase their own.