Before Clayfield College students joined Ben Lee on the main stage at On the Green, they had already spent time learning from the Australian singer-songwriter in an artist workshop — turning the annual community gathering into a chance to perform alongside the event’s headline act.
The students’ involvement unfolded across Sunday, 2 August, as families, staff, Old Collegians and members of the wider community gathered on the Clayfield College Main Oval for the annual event.
For the participating musicians and singers, the afternoon included more than watching Lee perform from the audience.
From the Workshop to the Clayfield College Stage
Before his headline set, Lee worked with students through an Opportunity of Excellence Artist Workshop.
Later, members of the College’s Canzona, Ragazzi and Ciao Bella choirs stepped onto the main stage to perform alongside him, joined by instrumentalists Reese T and Ema C.
Their collaboration included Surrender and We’re All In This Together.
The students then returned for an encore of Catch My Disease, placing them alongside Lee for one of the final performances of his set.
It created a clear progression through the day for the students involved: first working with the professional artist, then taking what they had experienced into a live performance in front of the College community.
Lee was the headline artist for the 2026 edition of On the Green, with his DJ Dad Bod alter ego also listed as part of the event program.
Students Remain Part of the Wider Line-Up
The student presence continued beyond Lee’s set.
Clayfield College’s 2026 Illuminate Band performed during the afternoon, while Year 12 soloist Niki M also took to the stage.
Chloe Noon, identified as CCOCA Class of 2024, was among the performers, alongside Chloe Javane and the Brisbane City Big Band.
Together, the program placed current students and former members of the College community within an event that also featured established performers.
On the Green ran from noon until 4pm and had been promoted as an open, family-friendly gathering, with attendees invited to bring picnic blankets and spend the winter afternoon listening to live music on the Main Oval.
A Community Event Built Around Music
The 2026 gathering continued a run of On the Green events featuring well-known Australian artists.
James Morrison and Emma Pask appeared in 2023, followed by Kate Miller-Heidke in 2024 and Kate Ceberano in 2025.
This year, however, the headline performance also became part of the students’ own program, with the workshop and main-stage collaboration giving them a direct role alongside Lee.
The afternoon brought together students, families, staff, Old Collegians and people from the wider community, with volunteers and others working behind the scenes also involved in delivering the event.
Clayfield College’s P&F Association, Old Collegians’ Association and Foundation were among the groups supporting On the Green, alongside event sponsors and community partners.
Published 13-August-2026
