Student sounds on picnic grounds

THE outdoor area of Ballarat Clarendon College’s junior school at Mair Street will soon serve as the site for a free concert showcase of the institution’s young musicians.

Student performers from the school’s Sturt Street and Mair Street campuses will take to the stage next month as part of Ballarat Clarendon College’s free Performing Arts Picnic.

Steven Belcher, the school’s head of performing arts said the event will feature a wide of styles and genres.

“All the main ensembles at our Sturt Street campus and a couple of our junior ensembles, which is our junior school choir, and Drums ‘n’ Roses which is their percussion group,” he said.

“We’ll range from junior choir to stage bands, percussion ensembles, string orchestras, jazz, and contemporary bands. It’ll be very varied with a few Christmas carols thrown in.”

About 20 bands and up to 300 student musicians will perform from the stage set up at near the junior school’s Watson Hall.

Mr Belcher estimated the performing arts picnic has been running for at least four years and sees an average of 400 attendees.

Six food trucks will also feature in the event.

Mr Belcher said the performing arts picnic will be a relaxing way to showcase their young performers.

“It’s basically an end of year celebration that’s open to our school community and anyone else that wants to come and have a good time,” he said.

“It gives the students another performing opportunity. Our indoor showcases are quite formal whereas this is quite informal. It gives them a varied experience.

“It also enables the junior kids to see some of the senior bands so they can see where they want to go.”

The concert will run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday 6 December and though free, bookings are required and can be done at bit.ly/49EZkYS.