The creative talents run deep in the Kruger family. Isobella Kruger (QAHS Class of 2018), Kombumerri and Ngughi Aboriginal woman, has brought her artistic and musical talent to a national online orchestra collaboration with the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB).
Our Academy is home to the Yugambeh Youth Choir with the choir rehearsing in the Lecture Theatre. This space is also the location of the Acknowledgement of Country designed by Isobella Kruger and unveiled in July this year. I encourage our learning community to read 'our story' Gaureiman ngalingah that accompanies the art work and which explains the choice of motifs by Isobella to tell the story of our Academy's connection to the area's First Nations Peoples' country.
Our campus was honoured to host the national launch of the AMEB Online Orchestra this week, a national collaboration featuring the music arrangement of 'Morning Star and Evening Star', written by Candace Kruger, a Kombumerri – Ngugi yarrabilgingun (songwoman) and Indigenous ethnomusicologist, with co-writers Lann Levinge and QAHS Alumna Isobella Kruger. The ceremony was live-streamed and commenced with a cleansing smoking ceremony in the Green Heart. Official proceedings explained the contributions to the collaboration, a moving story of a song line passed down through generations of families and made contemporary with the creation of a melodic line to accompany the lyrics. The QAHS Strings, conducted by QAHS Music Director Mr Patrick Emery, were gifted the opportunity to be live-streamed nationally performing 'Carousel of Life'. The launch culminated with the release of the official music video for Morning Star and Evening Star featuring the Yugambeh Youth Choir and stunning scenery from the Yugambeh language region of the Gold Coast.
Read here about Morning Star and Evening Star. Morning Star and Evening Star is available to listen on streaming platforms and the music video is available on YouTube.
"Lottie's wish was to have 'Morning Star and Evening Star' passed on and shared, so I am delighted that through the Yugambeh Youth Aboriginal Corporation's partnership with the Australian Music Examinations Board, we can fulfil this request. Alongside my cousin Lann Levinge, my daughter Isobella Kruger and blessed by our Elders, we hope that through the 'Morning Star and Evening Star' songline, everyone can enjoy learning the narrative of our people." Candace Kruger, Yugambeh Youth Abotriginal Corporation. Source: Australian Music Examinations Board. (2020). Morning Star and Evening Star Online Orchestra Lead Sheet. Retrieved 5 November, 2021 from https://onlineorchestra.ameb.edu.au
"We are honoured to have the opportunity to help bring this truly Australian narrative to life. We have really enjoyed working with Candace and her community and we thank the Elders of Yugambeh region for their permission to use the song. We now look forward to sharing the rediscovered story of 'Morning Star and Evening Star' with people around the country." Bernard Depasquale, CEO AMEB Ltd. Source: Australian Music Examinations Board. (2020). Morning Star and Evening Star Online Orchestra Lead Sheet. Retrieved 5 November, 2021 from https://onlineorchestra.ameb.edu.au
Vanessa Rebgetz
Principal