On Saturday February 14 the VCASS Chamber Choir performed at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with Kutcha Edwards and the Melbourne Youth Orchestra (MYO) as part of the curtain raiser for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s ABC Classics 50th Birthday Concert Celebration.   

Kutcha Edwards’s Album “ Warta-Kiki (Come Together)” is a collaborative project with the MYO featuring the VCASS Chamber choir which combines First Nations songlines and symphonic music.  The album was recorded last year in the Iwaki Auditorium at the ABC studio.  The performance at the Bowl on Saturday was an opportunity to present the fruits of this powerful and moving collaboration with full orchestra and choir in front of a sizeable appreciative audience on a perfect summer evening.   

Year 11 vocal student Amilea and new VCASS student Elly-Mae (year 9) reflected on their experience with being involved in this project.

“The opportunity to work, sing, and perform with the incredible artist Kutcha Edwards was an experience of a lifetime. The VCASS Chamber Choir first began rehearsing Warta-Kiki: Come Together last year, which we then recorded as a collective with studio-grade microphones at Iwaki Auditorium (the ABC building in Southbank!) in 2025.

On Valentine’s Day, I had the privilege of sharing the stage with Kutcha and my fellow Chamber Choir members at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as the curtain-raiser performance for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Singing those lyrics and telling Kutcha’s powerful story with the thousands of people gathered in the heart of Melbourne was truly a night to remember.

-Amilea (Year 11)

Being part of the Chamber Choir for the live performance with Kutcha Edwards at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl was an incredibly meaningful experience. One of my biggest highlights was the atmosphere of the Bowl itself; performing in such an iconic outdoor venue, surrounded by a large and engaged audience, made the occasion feel both exciting and significant.

Working alongside Kutcha Edwards was particularly powerful. His music carries deep emotion and storytelling, and being able to support that message through choral singing gave me a stronger appreciation for the role of music in sharing culture and history. I found it inspiring to witness how music can bring people together while also prompting reflection and understanding.

As a new student, the experience also helped me feel more connected to the school community. Rehearsing and performing as part of the Chamber Choir strengthened my sense of belonging and showed me the high level of professionalism and commitment within the program.

What I will remember most is the feeling of unity on stage; the blend of voices, the connection with the audience, and the shared purpose behind the performance. It was a memorable introduction to life at VCASS and has made me even more excited about future performance opportunities.

Elly-Mae (year 9)

Our thanks go to Dermot Tutty for preparing the singers so expertly and Wendy Campbell, Dr Julie Haskell, Ian Whitehurst and the music team for their support.