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The Primary Schools Music Festival is a South Australian State Heritage icon under the direction of The Public Primary Schools Music Society and the Department for Education. As custodians of this iconic South Australian tradition, we engage our students in artistic excellence, cultural diversity and social inclusion through performance in Music and the Arts.
This choral program has been an integral part of life for generations of public-school students throughout South Australia. From Roxby Downs to Mount Gambier, from Port Lincoln to Renmark, our Festival reaches all corners of the state!
In the 19th century, two community groups were established to improve the cheerless settings of the state’s primary schools. They were the Public Schools Floral and Industrial Society, formed in 1879, who planted trees and flowers, and the Public Schools Decoration Society, formed in 1891, who set out to raise funds for decorating schools with works of art. This second society organised the first music festival in October 1891, where 8 combined choirs from 9 schools raised enough money to purchase 148 framed pictures for schools. In 1925, these two groups amalgamated as the Public Schools Floral and Decoration Society, and in 1943 became the Primary Schools Music Society. The society continues to assist in funding the Festival in partnership with the Department for Education. It also continues the tradition of supporting the visual arts through a songbook design competition for the look of each year’s Festival.
The Primary Schools Music Festival remains at the forefront of Arts education in South Australia. Over 11,000 students across the state can perform the songs you will hear tonight, through supported festivals in their regions as well as in Adelaide. Where once students learnt songs using solfege, cassettes and then CDs, we have developed a world class App and website where the songs, as well as related curriculum resources, are easily accessible to teachers, students and their families. Where once the concerts were recorded on 8mm film, vinyl records, video tape and DVD, you are now be able to download concerts, as well as photographs. The Primary Schools Music Festival also supports local and Australian composers by commissioning new choral repertoire.
In our 130 years the Primary Schools Music Festival has seen many changes. We are forever grateful to all who make this educational program, and this concert series, a unique and precious living tradition for all South Australians to cherish.
The Board
President – Stephen Measday - Stirling East Primary
Vice President – Vacant
Treasurer – Kirsty Henning
Manager, PSMF – Irene Solowij
Director of Music, PSMF – Robyn Filmer
Choir Teacher/HPI Representative – Kristie Fudge
Life Member Representative - Deb Hepworth
Board Members
Terena Pope - Clovelly Park Primary
Di Scott - Tea Tree Gully Primary
Mel Evans - Norwood Primary
Bec Knight - Enfield Primary
Leah Kennewell - Aldgate Primary
Michael Bawden - Gilles Street Primary