Captains of Music sing praises of College choice
Year 12 Music Leaders, and the varied roles they inhabit across College life, illustrate the multilayered opportunities open to every Newington student
Henry C is Newington Captain of Music 2025.
He is also Lead Percussionist. The glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, the cymbals, the typewriter, the timpani – anything that involves tapping, shaking or beating – are Henry’s musical bread and butter in College musical groups, the Symphonic Winds, Symphony Orchestra, The Striped Ties and the Percussion Ensemble
When Henry is not performing in one of the 40 plus bands, ensembles and choirs which operate at the College’s Senior school, or starring in drama productions such as the recent musical, Catch Me If You Can, he is House Captain of Bavin 2025. While wearing this school leadership hat, one of his roles is revving up contemporaries and younger house members to participate in inter-House sport, service-learning and much anticipated annual events such as the House Singing Competition next month. Henry is also Senior Under Officer CUO (ACC) of Newington College Army Cadet Unit and recently delivered a moving ANZAC Day speech referencing his great grandfather’s World War II service within our local inner west community.
Then there’s Savvas S, Vice Captain of Music. Savvas also recently took to the stage, alongside Henry, in a starring role in the College musical. A recipient of the Joan Meats Pipe Organ scholarship, Savvas is a composer in his own right, and organist of the Newington Chapel organ, playing fortnightly at chapel services and other College events.
Aska Y, Leader of Orchestra, is another multiskilled performer when it comes to cross College involvement. A cello player, he also plays bass guitar, piano, sings baritone in the Senior school choir, sang and danced in the recent musical alongside Savvas and Henry, and additionally, like Savvas, is also Vice Captain of Le Couteur House. Additionally, Aska is a Newington Challenge executive member, and Vice-Captain of the 1st XVI, Newington’s Black and White Army and official sporting cheer squad.
This multiplatform involvement between Co-curricular, academic and sport is key at Newington, says Henry, to encouraging greater interaction and participation between every area, Year group and student of the Senior school.
‘Being Captain of Music to me means leading from the front, just like the Captain of a Newington sports team does,’ says Henry.
‘It means making sure you are always there to help out, setting an example and trying to be a positive influence on the musical, and whole of school student cohort, generally to produce great outcomes for everyone.’
Aska believes mixing music and wider rolls in sport and other Co-curriculars with House mentorship roles has been integral in increasing cross pollination across all the College’s offerings.
‘In every one of our 16 Houses at Newington, we have one 1stVXI member as a Vice Captain and that really helps influence the younger students in our Houses to not only support the College as part of the Black and White Army at all our sporting competitions against other schools but also to come along to watch and support their House members in school drama productions and music events to try and expand what everyone sees and takes part in a bit more,’ says Aska.
Savvas concurs.
‘In our roles as House leaders too, Henry, Aska and I also encourage younger students to try out the Creative Arts, and likewise to learn what is going on other Co-Curricular areas and encourage support of those too.’
Henry says as a Senior student one of the things he has enjoyed most during his years at Newington is supporting his friends across the school and trying as many different offerings as he can.
‘We want to encourage every student to come along to what’s going on around the Senior campus under their own steam,’ Henry says.
‘Whether it’s joining the 1st XVI, coming along to listen to RockFest, auditioning for the Year 9 & 10 play Shack coming up in Term 3, going to support 1st XVIII and all our other sporting teams on the weekends or being part of the audience at Founders Concert in August, there is so much to experience and become part of at Newington.’
Term 2 is a busy performing term at Newington with some of our youngest secondary performers playing in the Junior Concerto Competition this week. This is followed by the Ensembles Concert (Tuesday 3 June in Centenary Hall) and RockFest (Friday 6 June in Centenary Hall) next week and the Senior Concerto Competition (Wednesday 11 June in the Music Practice Hall).
