An early morning, a big stage, even BIGGER talent: Our Big Day at the Plenary! 🎶

What a day! Our incredible students took to the stage at the Principals Conference at the Plenary, Melbourne Exhibition Centre—and absolutely nailed it.

Yes, the venue was huge. Yes, there were a few pre-show jitters. But once the lights came up, they rose to the occasion like true pros. Their confidence, teamwork, and sheer love of music turned the performance into something unforgettable.

It all started with a very early alarm clock—6:30am to be exact. Armed with warm Milo and crunchy hashbrowns (breakfast of champions, obviously), our sleepy but excited crew piled onto the bus and headed into the city.

Walking into the Plenary was a “wow” moment for many of them. The space is enormous, and there was a definite buzz of nerves. And then—magic. They played their hearts out.

Thanks to some serious prep the week before, every note, every cue, every ounce of effort poured into their performance made this one of the best we’ve seen in the program. No exaggeration.

They played beautifully—every note filled with intention and confidence. It wasn’t just about individual skill; it was about unity. The sense of teamwork was electric. Students supported one another with group breathing and encouraging smiles, and the teachers were there every step of the way, offering calm guidance and big-hearted cheerleading. 

The best part? That post-performance glow. You could see the pride in their faces. They knew they’d done something special. And so did we.

It might have been an early start, but it was more than worth it. A huge thank you to the dedicated staff who made this possible, the families who supported the students each week, and—most of all—our incredible students. You were courageous, committed, and completely inspiring.

We can’t wait to see where your music takes you next. 

Bring on the next gig! 🎉🎵

Elgars performing at Principals Conference

Beethovens performing at Principals Conference

Our very excited and proud teaching team!

Crashendo at The Channel

Crashendo! visited The Channel at Melbourne Arts Centre today to create their own music using Ableton Live. Students worked in pairs to record their own drum beats, then mixed them with pre-recorded samples to make their own pieces. Students were then able to listen to each other’s music creations. Thoroughly enjoyable workshop! It’s great to be back at The Channel after a few years, and also to continue our fabulous year of student composition!

AMEB exams

Two of our very talented Crashendo students sat an exam with AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) this month. They have worked extremely hard all year to be ready for the exams, and we were all particularly pleased with their results! Thank you to their teacher Daniel Tedford, accompanist Julia Hastings and their families for supporting them in preparation and on the day of the exams.

The students feel so positive about what they have achieved that they have already asked for the next grade books! Very happy to oblige!!

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Compositions in Crashendo! Week 1

 
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On 14 & 15 August, Crashendo! students from the Beethovens group worked with sound artist Nat Grant. They had a great time creating their own soundscapes and drawing what sound means to them. Then they worked together to perform their sound ideas in performance in front of their friends. 

Students were challenged to explore extended techniques on their instruments and find the courage to make music up on the spot. 

Thanks to Nat for inspiring the students to reach outside themselves. It was a fun, creatively safe space for students to compose and improvise.  

Thanks to Creative Victoria for making this project possible, Nat Grant for her inspiring workshops, and Teaching Artists Miranda Hill, Kristen Perry & Jennifer Timmins for all their help. Check out recordings from the project on SoundCloud.

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