FOUR! It’s hard to believe, but Coolum State High School has had four students accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium. They will further their education in the best environment possible, nurtured by industry professionals who have produced the lion’s share of Queensland’s greatest musical luminaries.
It’s hard enough to get one student into the Conservatorium, which makes the thought of four students receiving a place almost unimaginable. These remarkable students – Rayn Dowling, Jackson Krause, Ben Samson and Silk Long – have all worked diligently throughout their high school career to reach this goal, painstakingly crafting their talents and vulnerably putting themselves forward for selection.
And, as impossible as it sounds, as well as being greatly talented, they are also mature and respectful young men and women who are extremely well-respected in our community.
The fact that these students are able to scale these heights is a testament to the quality of the musical programs in place at Coolum High as well as their supportive and resourceful families. The journey into music for most of these students begins at primary school, where we are fortunate, in our community, to have some of the most genuinely inspiring educators you could ever hope to meet. They teach with the most essential teaching ingredients of them all – joy and passion.
The advantages of the Conservatorium are best explained in its own words: “Learning at the Queensland Conservatorium involves intense creative immersion, fosters a critical and inquisitive mindset and nurtures distinctive and inclusive artists, innovators, performers, producers, researchers, cultural leaders and global citizens, well-prepared to navigate and shape the 21st century.”
How brilliant it is that our students will have access to this immersive experience. How amazing that we are able to nurture this talent in our community. How good it will be to hear the music that these young people create on their musical journeys!