Ailsa is a flute teacher and current music education student at the University of Queensland. After performing internationally as a dancer, Ailsa decided to pursue her love of music and education through completing a Bachelor of Music (Hons) and a Bachelor of Education. Ailsa is an avid flute performer and choral musician enjoying performing diverse repertoire with leading Queensland ensembles. She is also the interim conductor for Lumens Chamber Choir, as part of the Brisbane Chamber Choir organisation. Ailsa is also a passionate church musician, as a Lay Clerk at Holy Trinity Church, Fortitude Valley, and Secretary for the Royal School of Church Music Queensland Branch. Last year, she completed Honours research investigating what influences the pedagogical approaches of classroom music teachers in Queensland.
The Middle Years Arts Festival requires each House to
construct a 10-to-12-minute presentation which
includes elements of Technology, Music, Art, Drama
and Dance.
This year the chosen theme is ... Embrace.
All students in the Middle Years have played an
integral role and have worked collaboratively to
produce and develop tonight’s performances.
SET ELEMENTS
The People's Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award is awarded to
the House that receives the highest value
donated to the charity chosen by the Middle
Years Student Leaders – this year the charity
is Ronald MacDonald House Charities. Your
donation can be received online using the
QR code. The link takes you directly to
the secure Somerville House “mystudentaccount”
web page.
This award will be announced at the
End of Term 3 Assembly.
Our Charity
Since 1999, Silver Lining Foundation
Australia Ltd is a registered charity
that is governed by a board of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
directors. As a Public Benevolent Institution,
it provides education, jobs and training
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people. The organisation promotes and
embraces an Indigenous led response
to working with disengaged
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.
Originally established in Queensland as
a trust in 1999, the Silver Lining Foundation
was initially created to provide training
for people from the Cherbourg community.
Since that time, Silver Lining Foundation
Australia has grown extensively and
operates in a number of regional
and remote areas. The focus of the
organisation is to empower Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander young people
to achieve positive futures through
providing high quality education
and real pathway opportunities through
hands-on learning.
Meet The Adjudicators
Ms Ailsa Harris
Ms Stephanie Lee-Steere
Stephanie, a 2021 Somerville House graduate, completed her Year 12 studies as Music Captain where she also achieved the dux of Music and Music Extension. Stephanie has since remained richly immersed in the performing arts industry. Tertiary studies saw Stephanie completing her Diploma of Musical Theatre and full-time training at the Queensland College of Dance in 2022. Lead role show credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia, Phyllis in 42nd Street, Sherrie in Rock of Ages, Margot in Legally Blonde and Frenchy in Grease. Aside from participating in local community theatre, Stephanie has also featured in television commercials for Channel 9, performed as a dancer in the 2020 AFL Grand Final Half Time Show, was a dancer in the 2021 Lord Mayors Christmas Carols Pre-Show and a vocalist in the 2023 Lord Mayors Christmas Carols, and she has also worked closely with Juiced TV. Engaging in the creative side of production, Stephanie choreographed Somerville House’s 2023 combined school musical with Churchie (The World Goes Round), and Loreto College’s 2024 combined school musical with Villanova College (Legally Blonde).
Ms Sarah Mounsey
Sarah Mounsey is the Head of Library Services at Somerville House and therefore spends her days surrounded by magical stories. This is her second year at Somerville House and prior to that she was The Head of Library Services at an International School in Singapore. Sarah loves coming to work to be surrounded by strong women because she has three sons and even a pet dog who is a boy! Sarah is an avid reader and has been a primary school teacher, children’s book author and teacher librarian. Although she does not write picture books anymore, she aims to read or listen to a book a week. The written word is not her only interest in stories. She also enjoys going to live theatre and music and every musical that comes to Brisbane. Her favourite event this year was attending the Taylor Swift concert! Sarah also loves binging on any great TV series that tells a compelling story. When she grows up she would love to be a judge on Australia’s Got Talent or Dancing with the Stars.