Photo: Claudia Baxter

LOGAN YOUTH MUSIC EXCHANGE

 

Logan City established its first sister city ties with Hirakata City, Japan in 1995. With the support of the Mayor of Hirakata, the Mixed Beans Jazz ensemble was formed in Logan in 2001, with 20 young and talented musicians selected to travel to Japan and perform in their first overseas Music Concert. The ensemble was later renamed Logan Youth Music Exchange (LYME) and the five subsequent tours involved 35-40 youth members. LYME has also travelled to China and Taiwan in recent times. More than 200 life changing opportunities have been created for local students through this international exchange. Over those years, many students from Marsden SHS have been given the opportunity to take part in this venture.

 

LYME is supported by the Logan City Council, Logan-Albert Beaudesert District Education Queensland and Marsden SHS.

 

The 2008 LYME tour of Hirakata City, Japan, received a national award. The tour won the 2009 Sister Cities Australia National Youth Project Award in July, presented in recognition of a significant youth project, encouraging and stimulating youth participation in the Sister Cities Program.

 

In August of this year, Hirakata Brass Band Association visited Logan City for the first time. They were very well received by the students of Marsden High School who were in attendance at their premier performance of the tour.

Many of our Marsden students had the opportunity you host the student of Hirakata and show them our Australian way of life.

 

We look forward to continuing our relationship between Marsden High School and the Hirakata Brass Band Association.