Class Notes - OGA eNews Issue 4, 2025

2018    
Xanthe Lowe-Brown

Brisbane Festival is one of Australia’s most vibrant annual arts festivals, bringing the city to life each September through music, theatre, dance, and large-scale public art. It transforms Brisbane into a stage that invites everyone to experience the joy and power of the arts.
 
Being part of the Brisbane Festival Next Gen Giving Committee this year has been an incredible experience. The committee brings together young advocates who are passionate about supporting the next generation of arts lovers, creatives, and philanthropists in Brisbane. We spread the word about the Festival, attend shows and host fundraising events to support the future of the arts in Brisbane.

This year, I hosted Elevate and Caffeinate, a fundraiser held at my family’s coffee roastery, Wolff Coffee Roasters. The event brought together a vibrant group of people from across the arts and local community to celebrate creativity, connection, and the importance of supporting Brisbane Festival’s future.
 
I also had the privilege of performing in 100 Guitars at the Brisbane Festival, “a powerful, site-specific performance featuring 100 electric guitarists from communities across the city, uniting to create an unforgettable surround-sound spectacle” at the Brisbane Powerhouse. In addition, I enjoyed curating an uplifting playlist for Brisbane Festival designed to soundtrack festival events and evoke positivity amongst attendees.
 
I am very grateful for this opportunity to bring together my music performance background, as well as my PhD research into emotion-regulation playlists. Being part of Brisbane Festival has strengthened my belief that creativity and community are essential to the cultural life of our city and I’m excited to continue advocating for the arts and the next generation of creative thinkers in Brisbane. Would love to see you at BrisFest next September!

2015 & 2014
Nina Korbe & Annabelle Traves

We are proud to see not one, but two St Margaret’s Old Girls featured in Style's 30 Under 30 List, recognised among Brisbane’s next-gen talent.

Coincidentally, both alumni have forged notable careers as performing artists.

Opera Singer Nina Korbe (nee Wildman ’15) is fresh from playing the lead role of Maria in Opera Australia’s ‘West Side Story’ and will take to QPAC’s new Glasshouse Theatre stage next year as Molly Johnson in ‘The Drover’s Wife’.

Annabelle Traves (’14) has been touring the concert stages of the world with Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra, has performed and toured with Bruce Springsteen and also released her very first single earlier this year.

2012
Ashley McCarthy-Griffiths

Congratulations to Ashley McCarthy-Griffiths (’12), who has been named Australia’s Exceptional Young Woman in Resources of the Year by the Minerals Council of Australia.

Upon her acceptance, Ashley shared the following remarks: “This award is more than a personal milestone — it’s a recognition of the hard work, resilience, and passion that so many young women bring to the resources sector every day. I’m deeply grateful to the award sponsor Newmont Australia and the judging panel for this honour, and to those who’ve supported, mentored, and challenged me throughout my journey.”

Congratulations, Ashley!