Brighton Secondary, one of Adelaide's four music special interest state schools, turns out string of notable graduates

Brighton Secondary School in Adelaide had a music special interest prohramme offering wide experiences from symphony orchestra level (top) to Year 10 ensemble (bottom left), with the advantage of the acoustic Brighton Concert Hall (bottom right), also a recording venue, on the school site.
Images courtesy Brighton Secondary School

Brighton Secondary School, from 1976, one of four special interest music state schools (others: Marryatville High, Playford International College, Woodville High) in Adelaide, became recognised nationally and internationally for the strength of its programmes and its graduates.

The Brighton school’s music programme had the backing of the onsite Brighton Concert Hall, “acoustically treated” for performances by. concert bands, orchestras, choirs, chamber groups and soloists. It was also among premier acoustic recording venues in Adelaide.

Brighton school’s music programme all-round successes and recognition included:
* Big bands regularly competing in Essentially Ellington and Generations in Jazz in Mount Gambier with students consistently selected for the All-stars Superband.
* South Australian Band Festival back-to-back wins.
* Percussion ensembles’ gold rating at the ABODA (Australian Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association) Band Festival.
* Symphony orchestra's consistent gold standard at the Australian International Music Festival.
* Many ensembles performing as guest artists at the Primary Schools’ Music Festival.
* Choirs regularly winning at the Adelaide Choral Eisteddfod.
* Involved at ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies.
* Many international tours since 2008 to Asia, Europe and New Zealand.

All students at Brighton Secondary School were encouraged to enrol in core music as a subject in Year 7. Students wanting to study music more intensively could audition for the special interest music programme, also available for students outside the school’s zone.

Choral and instrumental ensembles were at the core of at Brighton Secondary School music making, with wide experiences offered across 23 extra-curricular ensembles including orchestras, concert bands, big bands, performance choirs, small ensembles, chamber groups and percussion ensembles. Components of the music curriculum for all music students were: solo performance, musicianship studies, historical and analytical studies, music technology, instrumental tuition, ensemble performance, composition and choral training.