LET’S GET LOUD: Declan and Matthew Lummis, P and C president Keith Lummis and year 12 students Hayden Lummis and Chris Ryan look foward to seeing Orange High School’s new music room become a reality. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0930music1
ORANGE High School year 12 music students left a $600,000 legacy as the building of a third music space becomes a reality.
Through sheer determination and an obsession with music, the students raised $300,000. They went dollar-for-dollar with the state government.
School captain Chris Ryan said he was disappointed the project could not have been completed before he finished school.
He said the love of playing gigs made the fundraising feat an easy task.
“The commitment to the stage band and a commitment to music came natural to a lot of us,” he said.
The band played gigs across the country to raise the funds. From charity balls, to Orange theatre productions, formal dinners and even a stint at Parliament House, you name it and Orange High School music students were there.
Orange City Council recently approved the development application of the space, which means construction can start as soon as tenders for the project come back.
Head music teacher Christine Mickle said she finds it hard to believe the dream will soon be tangible. Mrs Mickle had lobbied for the music space for the last four years.
Orange High School has three full-time music teachers but only two music rooms. Many hours were spent teaching outside.
“I don’t think it would have happened except for the sheer determination of some people,” she said.
“I got to the point where I thought is it really going to happen.”
Mrs Mickle knew her persistence was worth it.
“It’s not a job, I love what I am doing here.”
There were 16 year 12 students doing music this year. Chris Ryan said they would have appreciated the room to practise their skills.
“We understand more than anyone the need,” he said.
Principal Maree Angus said the architects of the space would design it so the acoustics would be the envy of musicians around the central west. She said the school plans to allow the wider community to use the space.
“We always wanted it to be a resource the community could use as well,” Mrs Angus said.
The music space will consist of an additional 189.4 square metres of floor area to the existing building.
There will be a rehearsal area, a computer room and a tiered learning space.
nicole.kuter@ruralpress.com
