Hillcrest Musicians Storm HOTA

Term 3 was a busy month for our Hillcrest musicians as they took to the stage for the Gold Coast Eisteddfod season. The Gold Coast Eisteddfod is the largest competition of its kind in Australia, and sees over 65,000 performers come and go from the stages of three different venues. Over a three-week period, our choral and instrumental students from Years 4 - 12 had the opportunity to perform on the stage of the Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts (HOTA). Each and every Hillcrest ensemble performed incredibly well within their section, and exemplified what it is to represent Hillcrest. They demonstrated their performance skills at a very high level, and also their life skills – encouraging all performers from other schools, being polite and well-mannered when interacting with Eisteddfod and HOTA staff and stage managers, and maintaining exemplary etiquette both on the stage and in the audience.

We began with Choral week, and our ten choirs from Years 4 - 12 performed over four days and sung their way through 26 songs, sharing joy with others. Bel Canto were successful in winning the Premier Grade Division of the Eisteddfod, which is an Open Age category and attracts choirs from interstate and Brisbane. The adjudicator commented that 'their standard was one which he would expect to find at University level in Oxford, England, and would like to take them over there to tour.'

The competition continued for our Instrumental students from the Strings and Band ensembles over the following two weeks. Some highlights were watching our Drumline perform with marching and movement for the very first time and having our stage band, Volare, compete for the first time ever in the stage band section.

Congratulations to all of our performers and their teachers, and to the parents for your support in transporting students to and from rehearsals each week!

Hillcrest's 2019 Eisteddfod Results