Marryatville in Concert 2025

When I walked into the Adelaide Town Hall for Marryatville in Concert 2025, I expected to hear good music. 

I have already lauded Marryatville High School for the extraordinary achievements of their Big Band, who this year gained 2nd place in Division 1 at Generations in Jazz – Australia’s premier jazz festival for young musicians, which the Big Band ensemble has consistently placed in for the last 30 years. 

I was also thrilled to announce that the same group recently won “Most Outstanding High School Jazz Ensemble” in the world, in the U.S. based “UpBeat” magazine awards, which is the world-wide publication for professional instrumentalists. 

So I expected a top-notch performance. BUT, what I experienced was far greater: an evening that left me mesmerised and speechless - and in awe of what a school community can achieve when vision, passion, and talent come together. 

From the opening sequence, it was clear that this was not just a concert but a celebration of discipline, creativity, and joy. To hear young performers like Allen Li on piano, Andreina Robins on keyboard, Nok Hui on bass, Thomas Crescitelli on drums, Billy Stalley-Gordon on guitar, and Ryan Tillman and Maddy Bowden on vocals was to be reminded of the astonishing depth of talent in this school community. 

None of this happens by accident. It takes leadership, vision, and tireless dedication.  

Principal Julie Ferguson deserves enormous credit for shaping a school culture where the arts are a cornerstone of learning. She understands that music is not a luxury for students, but a necessity.  

And Head of Music Mat Noble, this powerhouse of inspiration, passion and energy for the importance of music for all children and young people; as an outlet, as expression, as an instrument of emotional and psychological growth, but so importantly, as a partner in academic education.  

Mat is a mentor and guide who draws out of his students not just technical excellence but joy, confidence, and connection. 

Alongside him, the entire music faculty, from classroom teachers to instrumental tutors, have created something that I have no doubt would be the envy of the nation. 

The performances were extraordinary.  

The Symphony Orchestra, under Jasmin Feneley and Aldis Sils, soared with Chaminade’s Concertino pour flûte, brought to life with brilliance by soloists Akane Mears and Jacinta Dela Rosa.  

The Baroque Ensemble, with Ying Ying Shu as soloist, played Bach with extraordinary precision and vitality. 

The choirs, the Chamber and Concert Choir, and the combined voices in the finale, reminded us of the unique power of human harmony.  

Neuroscience tells us that when people sing together, their heart rates synchronise, their breathing unites, and their brains release chemicals that enhance memory, wellbeing, and resilience.  

Watching these young people, I could see those truths in action, music binding them together as one. 

The Big Band, SwingTones, Pops Vocal, Bird with Strings, and the Funktion ensemble gave us music that lifted the roof.  

Soloist students like Luka Ferguson on saxophone, Reuben Elmualim on vibes, Eden Kwok on piano, Hugh Loipersberger on guitar, Myles Griesche-Church on saxophone and Andy Tettamanzi on trumpet shone with artistry that promises bright futures. 

And then, in the finale, when the first lines of “You’re the Voice” rang out, I felt a lump in my throat. It was not just a song, it was a declaration. These students are the voices of the future, voices filled with hope, courage and discipline. 

The science of music is as inspiring as the sound. Learning an instrument strengthens memory, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning. It literally builds new pathways in the brain.  

Singing in a choir develops not only pitch and rhythm but teamwork, empathy, and the ability to listen deeply, skills that spill over into academic learning and life itself.  

Think of a teenager drumming in a band – not necessarily my instrument of choice before I discovered this, but now I’m thinking very differently about it! 

The Auditory cortex is busy decoding the singer’s voice, the guitarist’s chords, and the drummer’s own kit, separating sounds and keeping track of timing.  

The motor cortex sends rapid-fire signals separately to both hands and feet so the drummer can coordinate different movements between the left and right sides of the body.  

Procedural memory stores motor patterns built from practice.  

And dopamine and endorphins boost motivation, while oxytocin deepens connection with the singer and bandmates. 

In short, drumming with a singer is like running a mini orchestra inside the body: ears, eyes, muscles, and multiple brain regions are all working together so rhythm, coordination, and emotion merge into one seamless performance. 

When we invest in music, we are not only creating great performances, we are building stronger, smarter, kinder human beings. 

In addition to all this I was struck by how deeply the evening reflected Marryatville’s KARRA values.  

• Kindness in the way students supported one another.  

• Achievement in every polished solo and perfectly balanced ensemble.  

• Respect in their acknowledgement of country, their discipline on stage, and in their reverence for the music.  

• Resilience shone through in the hours of rehearsal and the courage to step into the spotlight. And, 

• Aspiration – alive in the sheer ambition of tackling works from Bach and Kabalevsky to Stevie Wonder and Buddy Rich. 

I left Marryatville in Concert humbled, but deeply proud. Humbled by the students, whose courage and talent shine so brightly.  And teachers and tutors, who dedicate their lives to nurturing that talent. And so proud that this is South Australian public education. 

On a personal note, I also want to acknowledge Andy. Through his love and dedication to his musicianship, Andy has been the one person who finally inspired my own son back to music and to pick up his guitars again.  

That, to me, is such a valuable measure of the impact of this program, not only the brilliance on stage but the quiet ripple of inspiration that changes lives far beyond it. 

So to Principal Julie Ferguson, to Head of Music Mat Noble, to the entire faculty, to the families who support these extraordinary young people, and above all to the students themselves, thank you.  

Thank you for the gift of your music, and for reminding us of the power of art to transform, and for leaving us all who were privileged to be in the audience, quite literally, lost for words. 

Headline image sourced from Marryatville High School’s website: https://marryatvillehs.sa.edu.au/marryatville-high-school-special-interest-music-information-night/