'Dream come true': Springwood student secures spot at Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Georgia Hammond, Year 12 student at St Columba's Catholic College in Springwood, playing the French horn.

As early entry offers for universities reach schools across the state, St Columba's student Georgia Hammond has received a "dream come true" with an invitation to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Known colloquially as "The Con", the conservatorium of the University of Sydney is one of the most prestigious and acclaimed music schools in the country.

Ms Hammond, a talented French horn player, had listed The Con as her first choice for further study - but it had been her goal long before any application process.

"I remember from an early age I knew that I wanted to do something with music, and when I found out about the conservatorium I thought that was the place for me. So definitely a dream come true," she told the Gazette.

[Receiving the offer] was crazy, I couldn't believe it to be honest. Relief, excitement, just crazy.

Georgia Hammond standing by the quadrangle at St Columba's Catholic College in Springwood.

Ms Hammond picked up the French horn in her primary school band at St Thomas Aquinas in Springwood.

Discovering her love for the instrument, she continued playing it through high school at St Columba's Catholic College.

Driven by her passion Ms Hammond also took up daily practice, tutor sessions, and extracurricular roles in Mountains Youth Band and some select Sydney orchestras.

A proud school

Her music teacher, Rob Badman, said the news of her early entry offer was "exciting, but not entirely surprising", given her effort and determination to improve.

"[Seeing] over a number of years of Georgia's enthusiasm, willingness to stretch outside of what she might be used to musically, and all those sorts of things, has just made her a much more versatile musician," Mr Badman said.

"She's very good at what she does, and she's put in a lot of work.

The school's Partnership and Pathways Coach Nicky Alsemgeest said: "Music here at St Columba's is second to none. All of our staff, including Rob, are just pure gold. If you see the kids who do music here, they flourish."

Ms Hammond will study a Bachelor of Music (Performance), and hopes to climb the ranks of professional orchestras throughout Australia after graduating.

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music opened in 1915 and is one of the oldest music schools in Australia.

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