Combining sampling, looping, instrumental performance, live electronics and sound design, Electrocity Ensemble writes captivating music crisscrossing funky jazzy vibes through to lush layered soundscapes. A unique collaboration between students and staff from St George’s Anglican Grammar School, the group is driven by the creative drive of high school students, exploring the innovative potential of traditional instruments in a contemporary electronic world. Students write songs utilising traditional and contemporary instruments and electronic and software-based performance, working with staff in rehearsal-time on an equal artistic basis. Electrocity Ensemble is surprising, enchanting, haunting, beautiful, edgy.
Electrocity formed out of a week-long cross-curricular workshop at the end of 2016. It began by recording sounds around the Perth CBD and splicing them into samples in the Music Department. The samples became the starting point for a series of compositions using live instrumental and vocal loops run through Ableton Live and Reason software. The resulting pieces were performed at the end of the week over a series of performances to students, staff and parents. The workshop was a big experimental step into the unknown. When we set out we had a rough idea of what it was we wanted to do, but no idea how or if it would work.
The initial workshop was a week of crazy, creative, experimentation. It was so successful that Electrocity was established as a permanent group. Electrocity Ensemble now performs regularly each year, most recently to a sold-out show at the 2019 Perth FRINGE WORLD Festival.
Vocals
Sadie joined Electrocity Ensemble in 2022 as the lead vocalist. She first was introduced to the world of music when she joined her primary school’s junior choir in Year 3. She then took up playing the flute in Year 5 and have played ever since. When she joined St George’s in Year 7, she continued flute lessons and began guitar lessons. Playing these instruments led her to join Swing Band, Rock Band, as well as Chapel Choir and Vocal Ensemble, all of which she is still involved in. In 2020 and 2022, she successfully auditioned for the Select Choir in the Anglican Schools Commission Combined Schools Concert. She has loved performing in school concerts, musicals, and all the other opportunities that St George’s has provided and she can’t wait to add FRINGE WORLD Festival to the list. She loves creating music as it allows you to express things that can’t be spoken and is very excited to be a part of a band that allows me to do this.
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
Tom has been playing the Saxophone since he was in Year 4. Since joining St George’s he has taken advantage of many opportunities, leading him to playing in Chapel Band, Year 7 Rock Band, Swing Band, Electrocity Ensemble, and performing in multiple concerts including the Anglican Schools Commission 2018 Biennial Combined Schools Concert at the Perth Concert Hall. Tom is also teaching himself how to play the ukulele. He hopes that by being in Electrocity Ensemble he will be able to have lots of fun and become a better saxophonist.
Keyboards/Synth
Isla has always had an interest in music. She has been playing piano since she was 7 and has loved discovering how music can bring people together. She is lead vocalist for the St George’s Swing Band, sings in Vocal Ensemble and Year 11 Rock Band, and has accompanied her sister on piano in a duet performed at Sounds and Sunset. She also takes piano lessons, which she really enjoys going to as she loves suggesting new songs to play and seeing the process in which the different elements of the piece are brought together. Through learning piano she has a better understanding of how music works; the process by which the many instruments and elements are incorporated together and how to learn and create her own. Isla loves how music is something we all share and being able to play with other people and create something together is one of the best experiences. She is very grateful to have the opportunity to do this through Electrocity Ensemble.
Drums
Xavier is the drummer for Electrocity Ensemble and has been playing for upwards of 5 years. Back in year 4 he began to learn how to play and has continued to learn ever since. Xavier has been a part of a few bands both in and out of St George’s. He has performed in several special events, most importantly going on tour with the St George’s Music Department for the 38th International Youth Music Festival in Germany. Xavier has previously learnt the piano, oboe and trombone but has since decided focus on playing and improving his drumming. Outside of music, Xavier is also learning how to fly and currently holds the record for the youngest pilot in Australia to complete their first solo flight.
Clarinet
Jade has been playing clarinet since Year 5, thanks to the Instrumental Music Schools Services program. She is involved in other music programs at St George’s such as Swing Band and represented the school at the 2021 Anglican Schools Commission Combined Schools Concert. Jade looks forward to all the musical opportunities that St George’s provides in her future years to come, as well as performing at her first FRINGE WORLD in 2023.
Trombone
Harv Miller is a growing musician as St Georges Anglican Grammar School. He plays Trombone, but also likes to play a bit of piano, guitar, and bass. He currently performs with Electrocity Ensemble, the SGAGS Jazz Ensemble, Year 7 Rock Band, the St George’s new ensemble Brasstermind. Harv is also a member student-made band Imagine Unicorns. He is looking forward towards his first performance in the 2022 Fringe World Festival, and hopes to become a talented musician one day.
Guitar and Bass
Zara has been playing guitar since Year 2. She is in Vocal ensemble, her Rock Band, Chapel Band, Electrocity Ensemble and the Advanced Music Program. Along with performing in Sounds at Sunset concerts and Freedom Festival, she is looking forward to Perth’s FRINGE WORLD in 2023 and all the unique musical opportunities St George’s has to offer.
Electronics, Synth and Bass
Alto Saxophone
Nicholas has been playing the alto saxophone since he was in year 3 and his appreciation for music has developed since that period. He joined Electrocity out of interest to further improve his ability to work with others and be in recording/writing situations. Nicholas has attempted to branch out into more foreign areas of music and continues to expand his musical tastes.
Electrocity Ensemble will be playing at Perth’s FRINGE WORLD Festival 2023.
6th-7th February, 7pm @ The Actors’ Hub. Tickets available from https://fringeworld.com.au
p: +61 (0)8 9312 0800
a: St George’s Anglican Grammar School,
50 William Street,
Perth 6000
Photos by:
Isaac Blackwell – @iab_portraitsandstreet (Class of 2020, St George’s)
May – @maymaytsaiyutsan, www.mooreidea.com
Hayley Ranson (https://www.hayleynarvaezfilms.com/)
Michelle Hort (St George’s Anglican Grammar School)
Ryan McBride (St George’s Anglican Grammar School)