The school that sings featured image

The school that sings

Music holds a very special place in the life of Santa Sabina College. We provide our students with opportunities and pathways for personal progress and excellence in performance, listening and composition.

Music is part of all of us and by engaging the entire school community through music every aspect of student learning and community is strengthened. Successful music making means creating an open door policy with professional partners, composers and other schools.

Students have the opportunity to perform in a variety of string, brass, woodwind, percussion and vocal ensembles, participating in events such as masses, liturgies, community and major College events, Celebration of Music concerts, fortnightly recitals and international concert tours every three years (e.g. Europe 2019).

At Santa Sabina collaborative music projects help develop the whole person within a first class learning environment with endless possibilities. Hallmarks of music at Santa Sabina include regular collaborations with exceptional professional partners, performing in major venues across Sydney such as the City Recital Hall, Sydney Town Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral and the integration of music in the classroom with massed performance events such as gala concerts and Speech Night. Santa Sabina is the home of the Sydney Youth Orchestras strings program and a number of students are offered SYO scholarships each year.

Our professional partners

Scholarships

Music scholarships are available for exceptional musicians coming in to Year 7 and 10. Read more here

Contacts

For any enquiries about the Music Department please contact Mr Timothy Chung – Artistic Director P–12 at t.chung@ssc.nsw.edu.au or Mr James Pensini – Head of Music Performance P–12 at j.pensini@ssc.nsw.edu.au 

Watch and listen

Sounds from Santa was the title of our Gala Concert in 2023 and its theme was the music of women composers. Almost 600 students and staff performed the final item, commissioned especially, ‘Set the World on Fire’ by renowned composer Elizabeth Younan, who happens to be an ex-student of Santa Sabina. This world première of her anthem for the College is performed by the choirs and Symphony Orchestra of Santa Sabina College in June 2023 in the Sydney Town Hall.

Our Gala Concert 2022 – All Things Bright and Beautiful was performed by 500 students, staff and guest artists in the Sydney Town Hall. Here are the highlights:

In 2021 our Gala Concert was themed Music from Around the World – also performed by hundreds of students with staff and guest artists in the Sydney Town Hall:

In 2020 we created a whole school virtual choir singing Thulele Mama Ya with Lisa Young:

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused schools to move to Remote Learning. Part of Santa Sabina College’s Remote Learning experience was the Santa Strong Co-Curricular Program. The Year 6-12 M.A.D. Monday (Music, Art and Drama) Whole School Singing Project was a series of eight whole school virtual singing sessions with Guest Artist, Lisa Young.

‘A Golden Thread’ Celebrating 125 Years Concert, 2019

Music is a powerful medium that can elevate the tone and cultural identity of a community, where exceptional performances are attained through commitment, perseverance, patience and the giving of our very best; the result can be transformative for both the listener and performer. Santa Sabina College is grateful to have the opportunity to perform works that are unique to us and which proudly reflect some of our core values and heritage as a Catholic, Dominican school. We thank, in particular, the composers of our five Commissioned Works: Elena Kats-Chernin, Alice Chance, Paul Jarman, Tim Hansen, and Randall Standridge. We are very proud of everyone who was involved in this special concert.