A partnership between St Rita’s and two sound engineering university students has proved mutually beneficial for the budding musicians of the College.

SAE (School of Audio Engineering) Institute students recently carried out professional recording sessions with the College’s Big Band, Choirs, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra as well as the Percussion, Guitar and String Ensembles.

Utilising the College’s innovative new Music facilities and recording room within the Trinity Centre, the sessions saw both parties gain real-world studio experience. 

Year 12 student and College Instrumental Music Captain, Elizabeth Kirby, said she found the sessions fun and rewarding.

“It’s important to experience a recording session as it’s a different type of performance pressure,” Elizabeth said.

“I find that it is easier for an audience to pick up on expressions of a piece during a live performance and harder to pick up mistakes, compared to performing for a recording.

“The new Music facilities in the Trinity Centre are absolutely amazing and I’m very lucky to have been able to utilise them this past year." 

SAE student Lochlan Walliker said the practical experience was unlike any other he had during his time studying a Bachelor of Audio (Sound Production).

“Especially in a field such as audio, there’s only so much that can be learnt in a non-practical environment,” Mr Walliker said.

“To really improve, you need to be working in practical scenarios and learning the lessons that come from unexpected events, such as a microphone not working or a cable being too short. 

“Being able to record the ensembles here has been an incredible experience; the College has some of the most impressive musical spaces I’ve ever seen with some incredibly skilled musicians to fill them.”

St Rita’s Head of Cocurricular Music, Mr Craig Kennedy, said the partnership was a great learning opportunity.

“This will provide excellent feedback to see how we can continue to make improvements in our playing.”

The recorded tracks are currently being mastered.