Over 150 local primary school students from South Wagga Public School and Lutheran School Wagga, visited The Riverina Anglican College, where high school students demonstrated instruments from the wind, brass, percussion and string families.

The performances were inspired from movie themes, jazz songs, pop songs and classical music.

Year nine student Ciara Wilson, said she has been playing the violin for over two years and is “always up” for a performance. 

“I love the violin, I just feel so connected to it and I really love playing,” she said. 

South Wagga Public School’s kindergarten teacher, Erika Crevatin is hoping the event will inspire more students to join the school’s band. 

“We’ve got a band at our school and it’s giving our band members an opportunity to see what happens when you move onto high school and what is available,” she said.

“We’re also hoping this might encourage some more band members for our school to try and increase the size of our band, because obviously when year six students leave we lose our most experienced, so we’ve invited year three and fours,” she said. 

Exposing young students to the musical opportunities available in high school, TRAC is also wanting to encourage the younger population to reach for instruments and make music part of lives.  

While this is the first time TRAC has held this concert, the school wants to open this opportunity in the future to any schools in the region. 

The college’s director of performance music, Clare Brassil said this is a great opportunity for all students. 

“Today is about having primary schools coming to hear our music that our high school students make,” she said.

“It gives the high school students a wonderful opportunity to perform and performance is the best kind of rehearsal and it also gives them the best opportunity to inspire younger kids.” 

TRAC boasts the biggest band and string orchestra in the Riverina, with 70 students in the college band and a string section of more than 25 students.