Students from across the Diocese performed their original compositions to a panel of experts and a 200 strong audience.
With the theme Realising Heroes, this year the competition offered two starting points for the aspiring songwriters’ entries.
The first was lists - a number of connected items or names written or printed consecutively, typically one below the other - inspired by theme for the 2019 ASPIRE production.
The second option was hero – a person who is admired for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities – based on the number of heroic characters that will feature in this year’s production.
The judges, including Anna Kerrigan, ASPIRE Artistic Director; Dominic Moore, Former ASPIRE stage band member and song competition winner in 2014 and Bob Corbett, singer/songwriter, certainly had a tough time picking an overall winner.
“The quality of entries was just so high this year, I was blown away as I always am by the 13 young artists,” said Anna Kerrigan, Artistic Director of ASPIRE.
“For me, the best part was watching them all play on each other’s songs.
“There was such a supportive vibe in the room and a genuine appreciation and passion for music.
“A wonderfully inspiring night!”
The winners of this year’s song competition were:
- Primary: Isabella Rankine - St Mary’s Primary School, Warners Bay – ‘I Need A Hero’
- Secondary: Ash Bamback - St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton – ‘Proud’
Both and took home a $300 voucher from Muso’s Corner and both will have the opportunity to professionally record their winning songs.
A thank you also goes to the crew:
- Patrick Howlett from St Mary’s Catholic College, Gateshead and Emma McNamara St Pius X High School, Adamstown for hosting the night
- Backstage crew members from St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton - Hudson Green, Benjamin Kennedy, Bethany Woods, Logan Ellis, Jack Vanderlinde, Jayden Fathers
This year’s other shortlisted entries included:
- Aleisha Sinclair and Matilda Isaac - St Benedict’s Primary School, Edgeworth – ‘This Cape’
- Jack McKenzie and Angus McCluskey - St Joseph’s Primary School, Merewether – ‘Sausages’
- Jamie Pockran and Michael Pockran - St Mary’s Primary School, Warners Bay and St Paul’s Catholic College, Booragul – ‘Mum’
- Serafina Angeli - St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton – ‘Heroine’
- Leianna McCloy - St Pius X High School, Adamstown – ‘Hero’
- Year 6 - St Joseph's Primary School, Kilaben Bay - 'Save Me, My Hero'
- Conor McCamley - All Saints College, St Mary’s Campus, Maitland – ‘Open Arms’
- Jake Porter - St Bede’s Catholic College, Chisholm – ‘We Only Have One Life’
- Jasmine Withford - St Mary’s Catholic College, Gateshead – ‘Without You’
- Jordan Snowden and Zack Forsythe - St Paul’s Catholic College, Booragul – ‘Hero’
- Austin Mackay - St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton – ‘Soldiers’
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