Personalise my view
Music students rock The Princess Theatre in end-of-year showcase
After a year of songwriting, tech rehearsals, live performance training, and learning to navigate the music industry, TAFE Queensland’s emerging musicians and production crew stepped into the spotlight for their end-of-course showcase at The Princess Theatre.
The historic venue came alive as students celebrated the culmination of their studies, fueled by the adrenaline of final assessments, the excitement of graduation, and the unmistakable camaraderie of the classroom.
Family, friends, peers, teachers, and a strong turnout of industry professionals were treated to a night of original music and standout performances, with the audience amazed by the next wave of local talent.
Opening the show, Greenlight set the tone with a vibrant mix of funky disco and vintage R&B covers, blending in an original track before shifting into soulful soft-rock territory.
Moonletter brought an ethereal calm to the room with their folk-influenced sound and atmospheric low-intensity rock.
Ember delivered a fresh, left-of-centre set featuring original songs that seamlessly wove French lyricism into an upbeat Australian-indie groove.
MERCS brought theatrical flair to the stage, with Curtis Wright-Elizabeth’s Talking Heads-inspired performance becoming a crowd favourite thanks to his commitment to a unique, fully embodied stage persona.
Alt-rock fans were treated to a wave of 2000s nostalgia when Parallel hit the stage. Vocalist Lily stunned the audience with pitch-perfect accuracy and a dynamic presence beyond her years, effortlessly tackling challenging Paramore-style vocals before showcasing the band’s original work.
Closing out the night, Granzella delivered their signature blend of comedy and high-energy 80s hair metal, channelling Skid Row, Van Halen and other icons of the guitar-solo era.
Their musicianship impressed across the board, with Keenan and Ethan earning notable praise for their standout technical prowess.
Behind the scenes, TAFE Queensland’s sound production students proved their mettle, managing monitors and front-of-house mixing under real-world pressure.
With rapid five-minute line checks, shared mixing responsibilities, and little room for error, the emerging technicians demonstrated professionalism and potential.
Their certificates survived unscathed this year, but with many heading into top-tier audio-visual companies such as Norwest, JPJ Audio, and IJS Productions - or into studio, independent production, and sound design roles - the bar is set high for what comes next.
The unforgettable night celebrated the future of the music industry and the proud partnership between TAFE Queensland and The Princess Theatre.
The ongoing partnership continues to create invaluable hands-on learning opportunities, bridging education and industry to nurture the next generation of Queensland’s creative talent.
