AN excited chamber choir from All Saints’ Primary School, Albany Creek, joined voices with Australian singer/songwriter Josh Arnold for a new song to launch Catholic Education Week in Queensland.
The catchy anthem, titled Catholic Schools in Queensland, celebrates the work and achievements of Queensland’s Catholic schools.
Catholic school authorities in each of the five dioceses, together with the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, engaged the songwriter, music producer and filmmaker to write and record the song.
Arnold took the song on tour in Brisbane archdiocese, introducing it to students at St Joseph’s School, Kangaroo Point; Holy Spirit School, New Farm; St Ignatius School, Toowong; and All Saints’ School, Albany Creek, before visiting Catholic schools across the other four dioceses of Queensland.
He later joined the choir from All Saints’ to sing at the official launch of Catholic Education Week celebrations at Lourdes Hill College, Hawthorne.
Mr Arnold said the words celebrated the positive contribution Catholic education had made to the lives of thousands of Queenslanders who currently attended or had attended Catholic schools over the years.
He said a lot of hard work went into finding the right words and lyrics for the song as he was passionate about Catholic education.
“I’ve seen the benefits that learning through faith has had on not only myself, but on my three children and all those who have attended a Catholic school,” he said.
Mr Arnold said the meaning within the chorus was about how Catholic schools prepared students for life, through faith and learning.
“They leave Catholic schools as better people who can reach out to the world in a positive way,” he said.
The Golden Guitar award winner said working with the chamber choir at All Saints’ school was an amazing experience.
“Having worked so hard on writing this song it was so pleasing for me, and so powerful, to hear such great voices singing it,” he said.
“As a songwriter there’s nothing more special than hearing amazing voices sing your song.”
