IRRAWANG High School’s talented Drum Corps has achieved national recognition and success at the Australian National Percussion Eisteddfod Drumline Battle Competition.

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They came an outstanding third place.

The Drum Corps competed against schools across the nation.

The Corps also teamed up with the Senior Dance Ensemble in the Own Choice section and achieved a highly commended.

Held on Friday, 2 August the Drum Corps led by teacher Ms Adele Robinson, travelled to Sydney to perform at the Eisteddfod.

Twelve schools from across Australia vied for first, second, and third place.

Irrawang High School was the only government high school to enter from New South Wales.

In an interview Ms Robinson told News Of The Area, “This is the first time we have entered the Drumline competition of the event as this section only began last year, and the Eisteddfod was in Queensland in 2018.”

Ms Robinson said, “I am proud of them and absolutely elated for them, as I appreciated and recognised the enormity of what they had just achieved.”

“This outstanding result is due to the exceptional teamwork of the whole ensemble, their commitment and their passion to drum, as one.”

When asked what a drumline is, Ms Robinson said, “A drumline is a section of percussion instruments playing as an ensemble, originating in the USA as a style of drumming and movement.”

“Our drum program has developed from eight drummers in 2005 to over 70 drummers in the program in 2019.”

“We are the largest drumline program in Australia!”

“The Senior Drum Corps rehearses three times a week.”

The Drum Corps program at Irrawang High has three ensembles, including Year 7, Intermediate, and the Senior Drum Corps.

At Irrawang High School, students begin their training in Year 7, through an audition process, and move up through the ensembles when positions become available and based on their individual talent and commitment.

The Eisteddfod is highly regarded in the Drum Corps field and the international judging panel of three consisted of judges from Australia and the USA.

Next year the Eisteddfod will be held in Melbourne.

By Heather SHARP