Amplify Student Showcase 2025 wasn’t just another concert but a defining moment at the Australian Institute of Music. A full-scale production unlike anything AIM has hosted before, Amplify transformed the stage into a space of bold creative expression, rich in colour, sound, and student-driven storytelling. From the lighting and décor to the high-level musical direction, it offered our students something they rarely get in a learning environment: a real-world, professional performance experience.
A Celebration of Contemporary Australian Music
This year’s show was a celebration of the diversity and vibrancy of contemporary music in Australia. It explored the evolving intersections of identity, culture, and digital innovation through a mix of reimagined classics and original compositions. Audiences were treated to new takes on beloved tracks like “Straight Lines,” “Evie,” “You’re the Voice,” and “The Horses,” as well as heartfelt student originals that had never been performed with a live band before. One student summed it up perfectly: “It was so nice. It was one of the first times I had ever performed one of my originals with the band; it was so much fun and an honour. The people here are incredible. They are the best crew ever. We got so close; it’s just awesome.”
A Show-Stopping Transformation of “Dance Monkey”
While each piece brought something special to the stage, one arrangement in particular captured the crowd’s attention. “Dance Monkey,” released in 2019, was completely transformed. As AIM performer Caroline put it, “Dance Monkey was once overplayed, but this arrangement is sooo fresh and new.” The credit goes entirely to the brilliant Charmaine Ford, who served as Musical Director, Bronte O’Neill, our exceptional Vocal Director and Nicholas Gentile, our incredible AMPLIFY Director. Charmaine’s reworking of the track stunned both the audience and performers alike. “The rearrangement that Charmaine did was insane, love it.” Another student shared, “I had so many people tell me that Dance Monkey was their favourite song, and how did we do that? All credit to our beautiful arranger, Charmaine and our vocal director, Bronte.”
Professionalism Meets Passion
But Amplify was more than great music. It was a chance for our students to feel what it’s like to be a working artist- to navigate the pressure, the collaboration, the rush of performance. Every detail was handled with the same level of care you’d expect in the industry. There was a level of polish and intention behind every cue, every harmony, every lighting transition. “It was just amazing, with Bronte and Charmaine, oh my god! I’ve never had an experience like this. It’s just such a professional way to learn, I wanna do it again!”
And that’s what AIM is all about. We don’t just teach music, we build spaces where students can experience what it’s like to create and perform it. We prepare them for the expectations of the industry while also giving them the support to explore, fail, succeed, and grow. “It was amazing! This is the best thing that’s ever happened at AIM for me, thank you so much, AIM, for giving me this opportunity.”
Amplify is ultimately a reflection of our commitment to nurturing the voices of today and tomorrow. It’s where creativity meets professionalism, where mentorship meets independence, and where students don’t just showcase what they’ve learned, they show who they are becoming. If this year is anything to go by, the future of music in Australia is in very good hands.
