THE POWER OF Music...

Music has the power to bring people together, to inspire, to heal, and to create joy. That is precisely what a new music ensemble at Lindisfarne is aiming for. This is no ordinary ensemble - it is a collaboration between senior Lindisfarne music students, university-aged musicians, and experienced professional musicians. The goal? To create something truly special that inspires those involved while giving back to the community.

The concept of the yet-to-be-named ensemble is simple, yet clever. Musicians of differing levels of experience working together to develop a repertoire of new music that is written and performed by ensemble members. This is an opportunity for students to take their musical talents to a new level and grow as creative musicians. The musical standard is high, and with the help of university-aged and professional musicians, students are challenged to the limits of their abilities.

The idea of this ensemble is that students are expected to contribute creative ideas. These can be musical ideas, lyric ideas, or conceptual/production-based ideas. This provides an opportunity for students to explore their creativity and let their imaginations run wild. With the guidance of experienced professionals, the possibilities are endless.

During weekly rehearsals held in Term 1, students were presented with songs and musical ideas that challenged their capabilities. The group not only met the challenge head-on, but shared their own songs and ideas to help create over twenty-five minutes of brand new music. The students performed this new music at the Germinate Records Live gig held at The Citadel in Murwillumbah. This debut gig provided valuable experience for our students while raising money for Tweed Palliative Support and Wedgetail Retreat.

The long-term goal of the ensemble is ambitious yet exciting. The plan is to establish a high-quality, professional ensemble that is based at Lindisfarne. The ensemble will travel both nationally and internationally, performing, recording, and offering workshops to those who do not have access to the resources and expertise that we experience at Lindisfarne on a daily basis. This is an opportunity for students to use their gifts for the good of others, something that is very much in line with the core focus of the school recording studio.

The students are very fortunate to have some fantastic musicians on board to help guide them for this project, including:

Nicki Parrott - Double bass/Vocals

Recently returned from living in New York City, Nicki Parrott has worked at the highest level with some of the very best in the business including a long-running stint as the bassist in the Les Paul trio. Nicki is also a recording artist who is well-known around the world.

Dave Sanders - Drums/Percussion

Dave is an extremely accomplished musician who has worked in a variety of contexts with a wide range of artists including; Olivia Newton-John, Pete Murray, Margaret Urlich, Leonardo’s Bride, and Petula Clarke. Dave is also one of Australia’s leading drum educators.

Sam Sanders - Guitar/Multi-instrumentalist. Sam is an exceptional young musician who has very much hit the ground running after recently completing his HSC. His band Loose Content has built a strong local following and a growing national reputation.

Brett Canning - Bass/Production/Director

Brett Canning is an Australian musician, producer and APRA-Award nominated songwriter. He has had the good fortune to perform and/or record with some of Australia’s most successful artists including Missy Higgins, The Audreys, Ross Wilson and Ian Moss.

This collaboration between students, university-aged musicians, and experienced professional musicians will create something truly special, and the longterm goal of establishing a high-quality, professional ensemble is exciting. This project is an opportunity for students to grow as creative musicians, explore their creativity, and use their talents for the good of others!

Brett Canning Recording Studio Producer/Manager