Australian Church Music in Schools

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College
Victoria Road, North Parramatta
http://www.olmc.nsw.edu.au/

Our Lady of Mercy College has a large Music Department, and presents (among many other musical events) an annual OLMC Musical Evening and a beautiful concert of Christmas Carols in the College Chapel each year. The College maintains several Choirs, and around 200 students participate in 14 music ensembles, all under the direction of music coordinator Paul Witney, who trains the OLMC string groups as well as directing the Music Department and composing Church music.

OLMC students usually take part in Church music during College liturgies in the College Chapel, where community events such as the Mother Daughter Mass, the Father Daughter Mass, and the Alumnae Reunion Mass are celebrated by Fr Walter Fogarty with the assistance of Mrs. Geraldine Perry, the OLMC Liturgy Coordinator. Very large sung liturgies such as the Mercy Day Mass and the annual College Graduation Mass are celebrated at nearby St Patrick's Cathedral Parramatta.

Professional College music teachers offer tuition in a full range of orchestral instruments and musical ensembles at OLMC, with plentiful performance opportunities. The school has a well equipped suite of practice rooms and a concert performance hall with an excellent sound system. The 12 OLMC instrumental tutors include Lyndall Hord (woodwind & saxaphone), Henry Liang (flute), and Rachelle Elliot (voice). In February 2012 the new OLMC Christina Creede Music Centre, which boasts a DAT recording and transfer system in every practice room, was opened and blessed by Fr Walter Fogarty, the College Chaplain. The Mercy Chorale, the Chamber Ensemble, the College Orchestra, the Worship Band, trainee Choristers and Cantors, and instrumental groups perform Church music in both contemporary and traditional genres.

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