Special Interest Music |
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The Brighton Special Interest Music Centre was established in 1976 and is one of four Special Interest Music Schools in Adelaide.
Brighton Secondary School is recognised nationally and internationally as one of the strongest music programs in South Australia with many Old Scholars occupying prominent positions in Music Education and the Music industry.
All students at Brighton Secondary School are encouraged to enrol in Music as a subject in Year 8. This subject caters for students with no prior musical experience as well as continuing music students. Students with a passion and desire to study music more intensively can audition for the Special Interest Music Program. This program is also available for students outside the Brighton Secondary School zone.
Brighton Secondary School is recognised nationally and internationally as one of the strongest music programs in South Australia with many Old Scholars occupying prominent positions in Music Education and the Music industry.
All students at Brighton Secondary School are encouraged to enrol in Music as a subject in Year 8. This subject caters for students with no prior musical experience as well as continuing music students. Students with a passion and desire to study music more intensively can audition for the Special Interest Music Program. This program is also available for students outside the Brighton Secondary School zone.
Special Interest Music 2021
Applications close on
Friday 1 May 2020
Applications close on
Friday 1 May 2020
Completed application forms for Brighton Secondary School can be emailed to:
dl.0803.music@schools.sa.edu.au
The 2020 Special Interest Music auditions have moved online to allow this process to continue.
Click here to download information about the 2020 SIM Application Process (PDF 372KB)
2020 Special Interest Music audition process
Applications due Friday May 1 2020
Shortlisting
All shortlisting materials due by Friday May 8 2020
Applicants send video recordings of 2 pieces (either on the same instrument or 1 piece on
each instrument) with accompaniment, if possible. No child will be disadvantaged if
accompaniment is not possible in the current climate. Performance videos will be shared
with all schools selected on the application form.
Please send copies of the sheet music being performed.
Applicants must provide contact details of referees [including classroom music teacher(s)
and instrumental teacher(s)].
Applicants must also send a folio of school reports and evidence of: long term commitment
to activities (musical, sports, SRC, community service, etc.); prior musical experience;
general and musical interest.
Applicants will complete an online aural exam.
2nd Round (May 21 & 22 2020)
No performance required for round 2. This will be a scheduled, interview only, video call
with the applicant and at least 1 parent/guardian conducted by Special Interest Music staff
of approximately 10 minutes duration.
Results will be emailed in week 5, term 2.
For further information contact:
Andrew Barrett (Deputy Principal / Head of Music)
Pam Parsons (Music Secretary)
Phone (office hours): +61 8 8375 8215
dl.0803.music@schools.sa.edu.au
The 2020 Special Interest Music auditions have moved online to allow this process to continue.
Click here to download information about the 2020 SIM Application Process (PDF 372KB)
2020 Special Interest Music audition process
Applications due Friday May 1 2020
Shortlisting
All shortlisting materials due by Friday May 8 2020
Applicants send video recordings of 2 pieces (either on the same instrument or 1 piece on
each instrument) with accompaniment, if possible. No child will be disadvantaged if
accompaniment is not possible in the current climate. Performance videos will be shared
with all schools selected on the application form.
Please send copies of the sheet music being performed.
Applicants must provide contact details of referees [including classroom music teacher(s)
and instrumental teacher(s)].
Applicants must also send a folio of school reports and evidence of: long term commitment
to activities (musical, sports, SRC, community service, etc.); prior musical experience;
general and musical interest.
Applicants will complete an online aural exam.
2nd Round (May 21 & 22 2020)
No performance required for round 2. This will be a scheduled, interview only, video call
with the applicant and at least 1 parent/guardian conducted by Special Interest Music staff
of approximately 10 minutes duration.
Results will be emailed in week 5, term 2.
For further information contact:
Andrew Barrett (Deputy Principal / Head of Music)
Pam Parsons (Music Secretary)
Phone (office hours): +61 8 8375 8215
Features of the Brighton Special Interest Music Centre
Choral and instrumental ensembles are at the core of music-making at Brighton. The school provides a wide variety of ensemble experiences including orchestras, concert bands, big bands, performance choirs, small ensembles, chamber groups and percussion ensembles. For clarification of expectations please refer to the Brighton Secondary School Ensembles Policy.
Recent ensemble experiences include:
The school’s focus on critical and creative thinking is fostered in the Music Program. Students’ compositions are showcased annually at “New Music Night” as well as by our extra-curricular ensembles. A composition by a Year 10 student was the soundtrack for Brighton’s successful accreditation as an Apple Distinguished School in 2015. The Music Centre’s Computer Lab in conjunction with the school's 1-to-1 program, provides a first class facility for music technology that supports and extends student creativity in all areas of the curriculum.
Choral and instrumental ensembles are at the core of music-making at Brighton. The school provides a wide variety of ensemble experiences including orchestras, concert bands, big bands, performance choirs, small ensembles, chamber groups and percussion ensembles. For clarification of expectations please refer to the Brighton Secondary School Ensembles Policy.
Recent ensemble experiences include:
- The Big Bands regularly competing in Generations in Jazz in Mount Gambier with students consistently achieving selection into the All-stars Superband
- The Concert Band winning the ABODA South Australian Band Festival back-to-back
- The Percussion Ensembles achieving a gold rating at the ABODA Band Festival
- The Symphony Orchestra consistently achieving a gold standard at the Australian International Music Festival
- Many of our ensembles perform as assisting artists at the Primary Schools’ Music Festival on an annual basis
- Brighton’s choirs regularly placing highly at the Adelaide Choral Eisteddfod
- Involvement in ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies
- Involvement in Italian National Day celebrations
- Six international tours since 2008 to China, Malaysia and Europe
The school’s focus on critical and creative thinking is fostered in the Music Program. Students’ compositions are showcased annually at “New Music Night” as well as by our extra-curricular ensembles. A composition by a Year 10 student was the soundtrack for Brighton’s successful accreditation as an Apple Distinguished School in 2015. The Music Centre’s Computer Lab in conjunction with the school's 1-to-1 program, provides a first class facility for music technology that supports and extends student creativity in all areas of the curriculum.
Courses and Curriculum
The Brighton Special Interest Music Centre offers unique opportunities for the study of music at secondary level through specialised staffing and resources – one outcome being the consistent achievement of Merits for Stage 2 SACE subjects by Brighton music students.
The following components form the basis of the music curriculum for all music students:
The Brighton Special Interest Music Centre offers unique opportunities for the study of music at secondary level through specialised staffing and resources – one outcome being the consistent achievement of Merits for Stage 2 SACE subjects by Brighton music students.
The following components form the basis of the music curriculum for all music students:
- Solo performance
- Musicianship studies
- Historical and analytical studies
- Music technology
- Instrumental tuition
- Ensemble performance
- Composition
- Choral training
Special Interest Music
Successful applicants into the Special Interest Program will receive the following benefits:
Successful applicants into the Special Interest Program will receive the following benefits:
- Right of entry into Brighton Secondary School from out of zone (updated 2019)
- Reimbursement of tuition fees up to $450.00 per year for study of one instrument with a private teacher (conditions apply)
- The right to individual tuition with Instrumental Music teachers from DECD on the principal instrument (subject to negotiation with the Head of Music) and group tuition with Instrumental Music teachers from DECD on a second instrument
- The opportunity to study music with students who have similar interests and abilities
Student Testimonial
Dear Music teachers,
I would like to thank you for a wonderful five years. The music program has been the highlight of my schooling, and will be what I miss the most.
I remember when I first auditioned. I was really nervous, but pretty excited too. My brother and I opened our acceptance letters in the car on the way to a band rehearsal and pretty much screamed, we were so happy. I entered SIM as a shy introvert and have left with so much more confidence, a lot of which has been thanks to the music program. It will be really weird to no longer be a ‘music student’, because that’s what I have always been here. If you ever need an extra trumpet player or backstage help for Music Spectacular, feel free to invite me back (please…).
The music program has given me opportunities that I would not have had at any other school. The 2013 choir tour was my first time overseas and was a real highlight of the last five years. The Sydney trip last year was my first time away from home for an extended amount of time, and it gave me the chance to play in the Sydney Opera House, which I will probably never do again, so thank you.
The music program gave me friends that I will have for life. Some of them I met in Festival of Music, but never spoke to until we came into SIM. The music program gives its students a bond like no other.
I appreciated all of you so much, even though some of you haven’t taught me as long. I am going to miss music a lot, but I hope I can come back occasionally. Something that sets the music program apart from other programs is the bond the students have with the teachers. You teach us all the way through, and not only in the classroom, but as conductors and accompanists. I cannot express enough how honoured I am to have been in the music program for the last five years, and to have learnt so much from amazing people like you.
Thank you so much,
Jessica McDonald
(Class of 2016)