St John's Catholic Primary School Auburn

Meet the Maestros: Paul Terracini

‘Meet the Maestros’ is a series of articles that celebrates the diverse professional talent and musical expertise of Sydney Catholic Schools’ Amadeus Music Education Program tutors.

Here Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra artistic director Paul Terracini shares what life as a musician, composer, and conductor brings to the Amadeus classroom.

Paul Terracini became a professional musician at age 17 with the Opera Australia Orchestra.

As a tutor in the Amadeus Music Education Program he teaches trumpet, baritone and trombone to students at St John’s Catholic Primary School Auburn and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Georges Hall.

“I grew up playing the trumpet,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s a favourite, but it’s the instrument I have the greatest affinity with.

“The rest of my life I conduct orchestras and things, so I love working with strings and all of the other instruments.”

Career high notes

Mr Terracini’s long and varied career includes work at the Queensland Conservatorium and as a member of the Danish Chamber Players.

He is currently a tutor with the Sydney Conservatorium’s ‘Rising Stars’ talent development program, Conductor of the Conservatorium High School Symphony Orchestra, artistic director of the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra, and artistic director of Penrith Symphony Orchestra and Penrith Youth Orchestra.

Mr Terracini has also written music for film and television that is still played around the world, including by the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony and Boston Symphony orchestras, and the BBC.

“You see the joy on the faces of children when they get to the point where they realise ‘I can actually do this’.” – Paul Terracini

Amadeus students at Patrician Brothers’ College Fairfield, St Luke’s Catholic Primary School Revesby, and Marist …

Alumna takes the lead in Miss Saigon

Sydney Catholic Schools alumna Abigail Adriano gives a masterful lead performance in Opera Australia’s current production of Miss Saigon.

Not many people have to choose between two dream career opportunities just two years after graduating high school, but Abigail Adriano has.

The Trinity Catholic College Auburn alumna deferred a law degree – forfeiting a full scholarship – to take on the lead role of Kim in Opera Australia’s current production of Miss Saigon.

“When I got the call from my agent I was crying and jumping for joy,” she said.

“The role of Kim is such an iconic role. Not only was she played by [fellow Filipina actress] Lea Salonga who I’ve always looked up to as a performer, the music itself is so incredible.”

School and stage

Abigail, 19, began singing and acting at an early age and played the role of Alice in Matilda Jnr, The Musical at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre while in Years 5 and 6 at St John’s Catholic Primary School Auburn.

While in Year 9 at Trinity, she took part in Sydney Catholic Schools’ performing arts programs to further develop her vocal talent.

“I was very lucky that my school was very supportive of my dreams.” – Abigail Adriano

Friends, family and her past principal have all come to see the show, which she said has themes that are “quite confronting”.

As the youngest in the rehearsal room Abigail said she embraced the challenge of reinterpreting the musical for a modern audience alongside her fellow actors. She said Opera Australia’s production depicted the women of the story with “much more complexity”.

“Miss Saigon deals with the sufferings of war, and all of those themes are embedded …

Meet the Maestros: Paul Terracini

Alumna takes the lead in Miss Saigon

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