School banding for benefit concert

WHEN Ballarat Clarendon College student Georgina Kemp saw the conflict in Ukraine, she said it “deeply moved her” to want to assist the country.

A vocalist in the school’s Barry Currie Stage Band and Feet, she thought a benefit concert would be an ideal way to help.

She spoke to the school’s head of music Steven Belcher, who arranged a collaboration with Ballarat Grammar in delivering the event.

Now a concert will take to the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts stage on Saturday, 6 August, and Kemp said she hopes it will provide the perfect pathway for support.

“I’ve seen lots of galas and performances where they’ve raised lots of money and thought why not get one going?” she said.

“Music is a big part of my life, and it touches a lot of people and it can move them, so I thought it was a good way to raise awareness and money.”

A line up of over 70 students will perform about 20 songs throughout the evening in a mix of musical theatre and popular music styles.

Proceeds will go to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal Australia, and the event will include a silent auction.

Ballarat Clarendon College student Sophie Clarke has family in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the major combat zone of Donetsk Oblast, and said the concert is close to her heart.

“This is a personal connection for me as well in supporting them. We care about our family, and all of Ukraine is our family now,” she said.

Ballarat Grammar’s director of music Andrew Dale said the event has been led by the students, and is a good example of collaboration between the two schools.

“From my perspective, it’s an interesting point because often the schools are competing against each other in sport and other forms,” he said.

“This is a lovely way that we’re actually combining to do a community service activity, thinking of others while actually enjoying each other’s music and working together.

“It shows leadership skills for the students involved which flows onto the younger students that they see this happening and that it’s achievable.”

Entry is $10 and can be booked at bit.ly/3PZyOPf.