“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” 

Plato 

This week we had something very special take place in our School. On Wednesday afternoon I was privileged to be part of a small ceremony held in the Drawing Room of Sherren House. Gathered in the room were some of our talented Music students, violinists to be precise. They were there as recipients of three scholarships for talented and committed violin players. The scholarship holders are honoured with the opportunity to play and learn with violins of outstanding quality from the beginning of the last century.   

Present at this ceremony were the donors of the scholarships. The Shelmerdine Scholarship is a direct result of the generous donation by Ms Lindy Shelmerdine (’80) of two fine Italian violins (Praga and Postiglione Violins) to St Catherine’s School. Their express purpose was to place beautiful instruments into the hands of our advanced students who will be inspired during their formative study years through playing outstanding instruments.    

The Danielle Lloyd Scholarship (Collin-Mezin Violin) was donated to the School in 2014 by Ms Sue Hayes, mother of the late Miss Danielle Lloyd (’83) who was a student at St Catherine’s School and later a much-revered Violin teacher. Danielle was a boarder at St Catherine’s School from 1980-83 and was Captain of Music in Year 12. Danielle was also the aunt of former student Miss Grace Lloyd (’19).   

Graduating Year 12 student Chloe (Coco) Butterfield has been the recipient of the Praga Violin, and she played a beautiful piece of music on it from the movie Cinema Paradiso. For 2025 this violin will be passed on to Year 9 student Tiffany Shen. The recipient of the Postiglione Violin is Kathrina Ang who is in Year 10. The Collin-Mezin Violin is in the hands of another Year 10 student Opal Scheele. Each of these girls are already accomplished musicians and the opportunity to now be custodians of these beautiful and historic instruments will provide an opportunity to take their music to another level.   

The generosity of Ms Shelmadine and Ms Hayes in donating these instruments is beautiful. These instruments will be played by St Catherine’s girls for many, many years to come. There is a journal attributed to each of the three Violins and in the journals is a photograph of each student playing the Violin and a piece of writing by each girl, describing their experience of using the assigned Violin. I find myself imagining that in 10 years, 20 years, and even further into the future, there will be a rich history for each Violin and future recipients will be part of a rich tapestry of musical excellence.   

It was wonderful to see the joy in each of the girls when they played the Violins. Sometime in 2026, when the new Music School is completed, these same students will be able to perform in the recital hall which will see music in our School performed at another level entirely.   

Music is an intrinsic part of our very being. It brings joy, it moves us, and it enters our hearts. At St Catherine’s, Music Matters.