Burdekin Small Schools Get All Jazzed Up!

The William Ross State High School Stage Band stopped at Maidavale State Primary School to perform for a combined audience of students from Maidavale State School, Airville State School and Brandon State School. Photo supplied

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Contributed by Burdekin Small Schools

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On Friday, 31st July, The William Ross State High School Stage Band travelled to Mackay to participate in the annual Central Queensland University Jazz Festival. On the way, the band stopped at Maidavale State Primary School to perform for a combined audience of students from Maidavale State School, Airville State School and Brandon State School, all small rural schools in the Burdekin area.

In a delightful outdoor setting under the huge rain trees in the grounds of Maidavale school, the William Ross Stage Band performed a selection of jazz pieces plus presenting introductions to the various instruments and what they sounded like to a very enthusiastic and attentive audience of students from prep to year six, along with staff from the three schools.

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The William Ross students and staff were very positive about the event and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The concert also gave them the opportunity to experience an outdoor performance- the breezes, the wild birds in the background and the school’s pet chickens wandering over for a look!

The event was organised by passionate and dedicated advocate for The Arts, Ms Rose Rush, HOD of The Arts and Languages and Music Co-ordinator at William Ross High, (and former Maidavale student), to extend opportunities to experience live music for rural students and give band members real-life performance opportunities outside the usual, more formal settings.  

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Also, it is an opportunity to inspire young students to become involved in music as well as inspiring band members to use their music skills to bring joy to as wide an audience as possible and to continue their music studies as a lifelong skill.

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The concert was led by Band Master Mr. Barrie Edwards and also playing with the band was Ms Kelly Clarke-Flesser. Both are Instrumental Teachers for the Townsville Cluster of which William Ross is part. Both are also passionate advocates and tireless workers for Music and The Arts in State Schools.

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Many thanks for the keen support of the project by the principals of the small schools involved: Host Principal, Mrs. Erin Alloway, Principal of Airville, Mrs. Marian Bugeja and Principal of Brandon, Ms Annette Wellington. Also, many thanks to Brad Keioskie, Head of Curriculum for Small Schools who keenly supported the initiative and transported the Airville and Brandon students to the venue.

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Thanks also to East Ayr State School for the loan of music stands for the event. William Ross is very keen to continue this initiative, and we are looking forward to them performing again for more Burdekin small schools on their 2027 tour.