Port Macquarie Vanguard put on an impressive display at the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod over the weekend, winning the overall Drum Line Championship as well as the “Own Choice”, “Test Piece” and “Drum Line Battle” categories.

Drum Line Coordinator Mark Spence was delighted at the results. “This past weekend we not only equaled last year’s results by defending our National title, but upped the ante by doing do in an even more dominating fashion,” Mark said.

“We won the most highly-contested group categories, which included the Best Snare Section and Best Quad section. There were some excellent individual performances too with Harry Amon winning the open Drum Line Solo and Dylan McNiff winning the open Drum Line Tenor Solo.”

“Of course we could not have achieved such great results without the support of all three St Agnes’ Parish high schools: MacKillop College, St Joseph’s Regional College and Newman Senior Technical College and Regional’s music teacher Sharon Green, who has been integral to the Drum Line’s success this year and in previous years. The support of Mark Robinson, Bethany Rennes, Wendy Welsh, Sharee Fletcher and Helene Golding prior to and during the trip was also invaluable.”

“The icing on the cake was that we received feedback that the students were very well behaved and good ambassadors for St Agnes’ Parish Schools. A couple in a neighbouring cabin personally congratulated me that we had the nicest group of students they had ever had at the park.”
Coordinating Executive Officer for Parish Education John McQueen congratulated Mark Spence and the Drum Line for their excellent results.

“It was a very rewarding outcome for the hard work and dedication that it takes to achieve such results,” John said. “The training the Drum Line provides teaches students teamwork and discipline, reinforcing what our schools also achieve.”

“It’s a great team effort contributed by Mark and all the staff across St Agnes’ Parish High Schools. We all feel a sense of pride when we see our students perform successfully at the highest level,” he concluded.

SAPSS Drumline (Port Macquarie Vanguard) were awarded Overall Open Champion Drumline. Category results included:
• 1st place – Own Choice – “The Massacre of Paris”
• 1st place – Test Piece – “Whipsaw”
• 1st place – Drum Line battle
• Best Snare Section
• Best Quad section
• 1st place – Open Drum Line Snare Solo- Harry Amon (SJRC – defending his 2017 title)
• 1st place – Open Drum Line Tenor Solo – Dylan McNiff (Yr 12 NSTC)
• 3rd place – Open Drum Line Tenor Solo – Nicholas Murray (SJRC)
• Highly commended – Open Drum Line Snare Solo – Nathan Brumby (MacKillop)
• Encouragement Award-Open Drum Line Snare Solo – Hannah Daley (MacKillop)

In addition to the results on Friday in the drum line events, on Sunday Michael Nixon (Yr 8 McKillop) picked up:
• 3rd place – Junior High Concert Snare Drum Solo
• 3rd Place – Junior High Drum Set Solo

Harry Amon (Yr 10 SJRC) picked up:
• 2nd place Intermediate Concert Snare Solo
• 3rd place Senior High Solo Drum Set