Sweet sounds from almost 800 budding young musicians will resonate from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University next week as the finest from across the State come together at South Bank for the annual State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP).

Over 1,500 students were nominated by 150 Queensland secondary school music departments with 760 students chosen to represent their schools at the prestigious program.

Running from 2 – 5 October, the four days of intensive rehearsals will culminate in four Grand Finale Concerts (10am, 12noon, 2pm and 4pm) on Sunday 5 October in the Conservatorium Theatre.

According to Queensland Conservatorium Director Professor Scott Harrison, this year’s program is the largest in history.

“This will be our largest ever cohort with many more applications that we were able to include in the program, so it is a true testament to the skills of those who were chosen,” he explains.

“SHEP is such a firmly established aspect of music education in Queensland and it is just as vital now as it was when it began in 2001 that young people from across the State are able to come together to share their passion for making music.”

The selected participants will work alongside international and national conductors for the program, including Wind Orchestras led by Professor Scott McKee (USA), Mr Neil Coy (WA), Mr Brian Hogg (Vic) and Dr Peter Morris (Qld); Strings by Mr David Deacon (Qld), Ms Alexandra Moran (Qld) and Ms Emma Nixon (Qld); with Vocal Ensembles led by Dr Heather J Buchanan Professor of Music (USA), Mr Daniel Crump (Qld), Ms Jenny Moon (Qld) and Mr Robert Stewart (Tas).

In a reciprocal program between Seattle and Brisbane twelve American college students (eight from Washington and four from Oregon) have been selected to represent the prestigious Pacific Honours Ensemble Program (PHEP) during SHEP at South Bank.

Sixteen Queensland students from across the State (Brisbane, Cairns, Emerald, Gatton, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Kingaroy, Pine Rivers, Proserpine and Rockhampton) will then travel to Seattle during November to attend the Western International Band Clinic as part of the PHEP reciprocal exchange program.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Marino, 0418 799 544, [email protected]

TICKETS: Lisa Dart,07 3735 6337, [email protected]