Outback Students Transform Disused Water Tower Echoes Into Unique Musical Performance
High school students in outback New South Wales have turned the unique acoustics of a 125-year-old water tower into an immersive musical experience. Cobar High School students recently joined the Noise String Quartet and a didgeridoo player to perform inside the Cobar Sound Chapel, located just outside the town of Cobar.
Guided by composer and Sydney Conservatorium lecturer Jim Coyle, the students used natural materials from their environment—including sticks, stones, and branches—to design a new musical score that interacted directly with the historic water tank's echo. For the performance, former student and Wiradjuri man Xander Jeffery played the didgeridoo, noting that the architectural space greatly magnified the instrument's acoustic presence.
Originally created as a permanent sound installation in 2022 through the collaboration of architect Glenn Murcutt and composer Georges Lentz, the site drew audience members who travelled hundreds of kilometres from Victoria to attend. Teachers and creators praised the young participants for celebrating their local community through real-world art, while students noted that the magical environment left them inspired to continue playing music.
