13 October 2016

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (16:24): I congratulate and highly commend The Arts Unit of NSW. I particularly acknowledge the New South Wales Public Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble, known as SWE. This is one of the premier student ensembles in Australia. They proudly celebrate high achievement in national and international competitions, a range of festivals and esteemed concerts. SWE has toured and performed in some of the world's greatest concert halls across Europe and the United States of America, and most recently in 2014 at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Kudos and thanks go to Stephen Williams, musical director and chief conductor extraordinaire. I also thank the entire team of The Arts Unit NSW, including Jason Isaac, Elizabeth Scott, Lindsay Pringle, Helen Mathieson, the many tutors and staff. Congratulations to the talented musicians of SWE, especially for their incredible performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music on 25 September at the Australian National Band and Orchestra conference 2016. They were exceptional.