The St Agnes' Parish Secondarys School (SAPSS) Drumline dominates Australian Percussion Eisteddfod

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Port Macquarie Vanguard, the St Agnes' Parish Secondarys School (SAPSS) Senior Drumline team, won the 2022 Australian Percussion Eisteddfod for the fifth year in a row. (10 - 11 September 2022)

Congratulations to Port Macquarie Vanguard, the St Agnes' Parish Secondarys School (SAPSS) Senior Drumline team, composed of students drawn from Port Macquarie Catholic Secondary Schools (MacKillop College, St Joseph's Regional College and Newman Senior Technical College), have dominated the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod for the fifth year in a row. 

The Australian Percussion Eisteddfod is an annual live-streamed competition organised by Percussion Optimum to showcase student performances with percussion instruments.

The group earnt first place in both the Own Choice and Test Piece components of the competition in addition to picking up every single caption award for best section (Best Snares, Best Tenors, Best Basses, Best Cymbals, and Best Colour Guard).

SAPSS Drumline Coordinator Mark Spence who writes and prepares the performances said that he never tries to expect anything.

‘We can't control the judging; it has just worked out that way for five years in a row,’ said Mark.

In addition to the resounding success of the senior drumline, the Port Macquarie Brumbies junior drumline made its debut this season, competing in the B division, which included students from secondary schools and the Parish primary school students as well. Their effort in the test piece and their own choice floor show, titled ‘Perpetual Motion,’ were enough to secure a second-place finish in both the Test Piece and Own Choice components of the competition.

The Drumline soloists from MacKillop College shined through with amazing results. Year 12 student Andrew Skellern claimed his first solo snare title with his solo titled ‘Prestige Worldwide,’ and Year 11 student Callum Pender-Buchan came a close second with his piece ‘Bogan Disco.’ While Year 11 student Nick Horder came second in the Tenor Section with an entertaining and improved tenor solo titled ‘The Tenor Solo.’

Watch the amazing skills of these dedicated and talented students below.