National Glory for the St Agnes' Parish Drumline Teams

Port Macquarie Vanguard, the St Agnes' Parish Secondary School (SAPSS) Senior Drumline team, won the 2023 Australian Percussion Eisteddfod for the sixth consecutive year. (13 August 2023)

Congratulations to Port Macquarie Vanguard, the St Agnes' Parish Secondary School (SAPSS) Senior Drumline team, composed of students drawn from Port Macquarie Catholic Secondary Schools (MacKillop College, St Joseph's Regional College and Newman Senior Technical College), have dominated the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod for the sixth consecutive year.

The Australian Percussion Eisteddfod is an annual competition organised by Percussion Optimum to showcase student performances with percussion instruments.

The group earned first place in the competition's Own Choice and Test Piece components and picked up two of the five awards for best section (Best Snare Drum and Best Colour Guard).

‘I am not lying when I say I have never heard our drumline, not from any year, play as well as they did. I don't know what it was, whether it was fatigue, excitement, relief, pride, or whatever, but they sent themselves off in style. I legitimately had shivers watching them shine,’ said SAPSS Drumline Director and Leader of Drums & Percussion - MacKillop College Mark Spence.

It was also the junior drumline, the Port Macquarie Brumbies, the second year competing in the Division B competition, achieving an astonishing second place. Coming second place in the Own Choice and fourth in the Test Piece categories. A fabulous result for the Brumbies.

Watch the amazing skills of these dedicated and talented students below.