Sing Off Competition – It’s Time!

On Friday 7 July, a large contingent of Year 11 and 12 students competed in front of a very enthusiastic audience at the annual Sing Off competition, hosted by Xavier College. Sing Off is a student-run acapella competition, originally initiated by St Catherine’s students, competing to raise money for a charity of the hosting school’s choice. The event is comprised of performances by Melbourne Grammar School, St Kevin’s College, Xavier College, Genazzano FCJ College, Loreto Mandeville Hall and St Catherine’s School, who compete in both a solo and combined school category. The songs and choreography are selected, arranged, rehearsed and performed entirely by the students involved and are led by their Music captains. The appreciative crowd enjoyed an excellent and varied set of repertoire, ranging from Simon & Garfunkel to Rag’n’Bone Man, with an upbeat 80s medley thrown in for good measure.

The St Catherine’s students were in fine form, executing their harmonies, choreography and body percussion with beaming smiles when they performed Imagine Dragon’s uplifting tune ‘It’s Time’. They backed it up with another energetic performance, combining with the students from St Kevin’s College to present a fun-filled and colourful ‘Bruno Mars Medley’. The St Catherine’s girls, led capably by Music Captains Madison Hunt (Year 12) and Olivia Soong Zi Yuan (Year 12), were thrilled to be awarded third place in the Solo Division and first place in the Group Section by the guest adjudicators from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Both adjudicators were suitably impressed by the standard of performances and community spirit showcased on the night.

A contingent of St Catherine’s students from Years 11 and 12 competed in the annual Sing Off competition on Friday 7 July.

Student-led initiatives such as this one provide valuable and challenging opportunities for collaboration and leadership. The benefits of this sense of student ownership cannot be underestimated when it comes to the quality of their final performance and appreciation of their accomplishments.

All of the proceeds made from this year’s Sing Off were donated to the MSO’s flagship community music program, The Pizzicato Effect. In 2019, the program supports around 70 children from 28 local schools to pursue their passion for music and build cultural and social bridges within their community.

See the MSO website for more information.

Mr James Brown, Head of Performing Arts