That's the Way of the World

Earlier this year, Mark Pradella, St Peters Lutheran College's Head of Woodwind, held a free concert at the Dron Auditorium to launch ‘That's the Way of the World’, an album recorded live in November 2023 at the Brisbane Jazz Club. This ambitious project brought together the talents of professional musicians, St Peters students and Old Scholars and began fittingly at the venue where it all came to life.

"I do a lot of gigs at the Brisbane Jazz Club," Mark shared. "It got to Easter, and I wanted to do something really special for our next gig at the Club. I realised it would be quite big, so I thought, okay, I'm going to get strings involved, and I want to get some students involved. And that's kind of how it started."

For Mark, the Brisbane Jazz Club holds personal significance. "When I was a kid, I used to go there and watch incredible acts. I was mesmerised and thought, wow, I want to come back here sometime and play. It's one of those moments where something changes the course of your life, and you think this is what's possible to achieve," he explained.

The project evolved into a large-scale production involving the Mark Pradella Band, Peter Vance & friends, strings players, vocalists and other musicians. "With my professional band, I had eight strings, five vocalists—that was a bit of overkill, but that's okay—it worked really well and was the sound I wanted," Mark laughed. "It ended up being a 20-piece group."

A Collaborative Effort

Although Mark arranged the music, collaboration and inspiration were key. "I wrote the charts and used a program called Finale to do the arrangements," he said. "Then I gave the charts to David [Deacon] and said, 'What do you think of this?' David is amazing to work with—he thinks outside the box and isn't conservative; he likes new ideas."

"The project was inspired by the talented people I work with at St Peters, the fabulous music students and my own professional band. I thought it would be cool to put them together," he added.

St Peters Old Scholar Zoe Catchpoole (2020), who contributed her vocal talents to the album, enjoyed the experience of recording live at the Brisbane Jazz Club: "It was a lot of fun recording in a live environment—I loved seeing the audience respond in real-time, especially in an intimate venue like the Jazz Club."

For Zoe, the chance to work with Mark and the ensemble was equally memorable. "Everyone in the band is so inspiring and fun to work with. I always have such an amazing time onstage, and we have great cohesion as an ensemble. I love seeing everyone get into their zone during our shows," she shared.

The Live Recording Experience

The recording itself was a tightly choreographed event. "It was all live," Mark said. "We did our first performance, and I got Mark Smith at the Jazz Club to do a tape recording. That went down really well, so we thought, let's do it again and actually record it, video it and make a big production of it. It was a full-house crowd, and off we went."

Despite the challenges of fitting such a large group into the venue, the recording exceeded expectations. "We performed 19 works at the time, and 18 were good enough for a CD, which is pretty unheard of," Mark said. "When you do a live recording, every second is captured, and you cannot fix anything. It needs to be perfect, so we aim for excellence all the time."

The album has since been met with enthusiasm. "The album is doing well!" Zoe said. "Mark has mentioned we've had a few plays on the radio, and it's also up on Spotify now, which is exciting."

A Testament to Talent

Of the 20-piece group, 15 were current or former St Peters students, parents or staff. "The kids here are super talented," Mark said. "They work hard. And it was just so nice to be working with so many talented people."

The project received glowing reviews from notable figures in the jazz community, including drummer and Big Band Leader John Morrison, as well as vocalist and music educator Jackie Cooper. Stu Robinson of 101FM also endorsed the album. "At the end, Stu said, 'Well, it's world-class,' and that was nice," Mark recounted.

Sharing the Album with the St Peters Community

Zoe and several St Peters Old Scholars returned to the College in June to perform at the album launch, an experience she described as 'incredible'. "Returning to perform at St Peters meant a lot to me, as this community has nurtured and supported my musical journey for many years now. I am forever grateful for all the staff that mentored me along the way," she said.

Mark echoed the importance of inspiring the next generation through music. "Music is about being inclusive, and this was like a family," he reflected. "I love performing, but I also love teaching because you get to use your practical knowledge with the kids. It makes it real for them, and you can inspire them further."

Projects such as Mark's live album are a testament to the vibrant music community at St Peters, the talent of its students and alumni, and Mark's passion for creating extraordinary musical experiences.

The St Peters Connection

The St Peters contingent of musicians showcased the school's enduring legacy of musical excellence. Performers included: Zoe Catchpoole (2020) (vocals), Will Toft (2013) (vocals), Alex Gilfedder (2023) (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion), Hal Chandler (2016) (bass), Sam Catchpoole (2023) (violin), Florence Miller-Metzner (2023) (violin), Andrea du Preez (2023) (viola), Thomas Allan (2023) (cello), Olivia Mehigan (Year 10), Gerald Yeung (Year 12) (violin), Mark Pradella (clarinet and saxophones), Connor Townson (2021) (drums and percussion), Ian Townson (drums and percussion), David Deacon (violin) and Cherie Deacon (viola).

The album is now in 196 countries and on 200 music media platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Amazon Music and Deezer.