The FLAME Awards will not run in 2008 as ABC Classic FM instead stages the national schools competition, Grab The Goanna, as part of the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia (SIPCA), held every four years. The FLAME Awards will resume in 2009 and ABC Classic FM and 'Music. Play for Life' look forward to continuing our search for Australia's most outstanding school music programs. Keep checking the ABC Classic FM website and stand by for an even bigger and bolder competition next year.

The Flame Awards are run by ABC Classic FM in association with the 'Music. Play for Life' campaign, to showcase the most outstanding music programs in Australian Schools. The Awards are open to government and independent schools.

2007 theme: Primary schools

For the first time this year, the Awards focus on PRIMARY schools only, to pick up on a priority area highlighted in the recent National Review of School Music Education.

Some pictures from the final concert (click to enlarge)

---

2007 State and Territory winners

Each winner receives a $1000 music voucher, a selection of music CDs and a year's subscription to 'Limelight', 'Music in Action' and 'Music Forum' magazines.

• South Australia: Dominican School, Semaphore


• Western Australia: Dalyellup Primary, Dalyellup


• New South Wales: Deepwater Public, Deepwater


• Northern Territory: Neutral Junction School, via Alice Springs


• Tasmania: Bicheno Primary, Bicheno


• Victoria: Glenallen School, Glen Waverly


• ACT: Turner School, Turner


• Queensland: New Farm State School, Fortitude Valley

The 2007 National winner of the Flame Awards is New Farm State School, Fortitude Valley, Queenland

"This is a school that understands that studying music helps literacy and numeracy and other academic achievement",� says FLAME Award judge Dr Richard Letts.

"It is a culturally inclusive program, it involves the staff in performance and has a commitment to professional development in music and it has developed creative ways of financially supporting the program - such as through inexpensive instrument hire schemes - so that students from disadvantaged backgrounds can participate."

Music infuses just about every aspect of life at this 285-student school. 100% of students take part in classroom music; 100% of students in years 2 - 7 take part in choirs, including a boys' vocal ensemble (set up at the boys' own request) and almost half the years 5-7 students participate in the instrumental program. There is a repertoire of songs in languages other than English and links with Chinese community events to help engage students from culturally-diverse backgrounds. The cross-curriculum use of music is significant. For example, songs about the environment are used to enhance learning about science and nature. An initiative to teach each Year 1 student to play glockenspiel using a number system has reinforced the classroom number work.

"For a small school, we generate a big sound," says music teacher, Carolyn Carey.

Student academic achievement is also improving because of music. In the nine years since the music program was developed, our numeracy results for year 2 students sit well above the State average since 2000.

New Farm State School receives a $3000 music voucher to spend on musical equipment and $3000 cash from philanthropist, Dr F. Noah Gordon. In addition the school plays host to a world-class concert staged by ABC Classic FM and broadcast live around the country.

Every entering school receives a certificate of participation.
 

---

The judges

The entries are shortlisted by a panel of representatives from ASME, the Australian Society of Music Education. All have considerable expertise in music teaching and curriculum development.

The national judges are:

• Graham Abbott, Conductor, Music Educator and Broadcaster
• Richard Letts, Executive Director, Music Council of Australia
• Julie Montague, President, Australian Society for Music Education
• Kathryn Marsh, Member, National Review of School Music Education, 2005

---

Previous Winners

2006: Tatachilla Lutheran College, SA

The theme for the 2006 Awards was 'community connections'. Judges were looking to see how schools involved the wider community in music-making, how school music programs extend beyond the school gate.

Singing nuns, barbers, Taiko drummers, Elizabethan feasts: South Australia's Tatachilla Lutheran College took out the national FLAME Award for its extensive and imaginative music program. The 900-student school, for children aged 5 to Year 12, has established itself as the hub of musical life in its community of McLaren Vale, near Adelaide.

FLAME Judge, ABC Classic FM Manager, John Crawford said:
"There is great depth and diversity of musical activities here. Parents and grandparents are joining their children on stage at musical events, prepared to have a go."

2005: Virginia State School, QLD

A 300-student primary school, Virginia State impressed the judges with the depth and diversity of the musical activities at the school, the ways in which parents and staff were encouraged to learn music with the children and the school's commitment to sharing its skills and creativity through tours to communities in regional Queensland. Virginia manages all this with limited funds and no dedicated music block or hall. All the children in years 5, 6 and 7 do singing classes every week - that's all the boys, too. More than half the upper school is involved in the 65-piece concert band, which also has eight parents and two teachers in it. The school has a 12-strong flute ensemble, a French horn trio, a clarinet ensemble of 13, a brass ensemble of 26 and a 9 piece percussion ensemble. There is also a stage band of 25 which acts as an extension program for the children who show extra promise.

Flame judge, Music Council of Australia's Dr Richard Letts said:
"Parents and teachers are involved as learning role models for the children; there are creative initiatives like the Musical Madness Mornings where the children dip into all sorts of musical styles. They've even managed to get themselves a recording set-up so that children can learn recording and audio technology. Terrific!"

---

About Our Partner

'Music. Play for Life' is the Music Council of Australia's national campaign to encourage more music-making in schools and communities.

For more information visit their website. > Music. Play For Life

"The thing I like about music is you can express your feelings - things inside that people don't know about."

"I play three instruments and enjoy having fun. I have made friends in band and learn to love music. We have music all around us, especially at school. Music makes you happy and it can cheer you up."

Primary school respondents in the National Review of School Music Education, 2005.

 

Please visit our contact page and follow the prompts.

Stay in touch with Classic FM by joining our electronic mailing list.

> more information