STUDENTS from eight Redlands schools have been selected among the best young musicians in South East Queensland and will attend the elite State Honours Ensemble Program at the Queensland Conservatorium.
760 music students from grades three to six were selected from more than 1900 nominated, representing 128 schools from Beaudesert, Brisbane, Chinchilla, Dalby, the Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Redlands and the Sunshine Coast regions.
Students from Cleveland State School, Faith Lutheran College Redlands, Ormiston College, Ormiston State School, Redlands College, Sheldon College, Thornlands State School and Wellington Point State School were selected to take part in the program.
They will now attend an intensive two-day rehearsal period with the SHEP string, wind and vocal ensembles, concluding with a concert in the Conservatorium theatre.
SHEP academic advisor Peter Morris said the primary program was created to challenge younger students who were excelling in music at school.
“The music is harder and more interesting, and gives a different taste for the high-flyers,” Dr Morris said.
While SHEP Primary is in its first year, Dr Morris said people who took part in the senior program in previous years had gone on to achieve big things in the music world.
“There are plenty of SHEP alumni who have gone on to play in symphony orchestras in Australia and overseas,” he said.
“(The program) allows them to meet other musicians outside their school, and make important connections.”
“So much of music performance improves performance in academic and social situations,” he added.
“We have got to start young to see these advantages.”
The inaugural Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University SHEP Primary will take place at the South Bank campus on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November.
