Perth band Birdland’s teenage triplets are preparing to sit their final ATAR exams before turning their full attention to writing and performing music.
Francis, Oscar and Conrad Cvitan, all 18, have spent the past year balancing Year 12 studies at Mt Lawley Senior High School with festival appearances, an Australian tour and the release of their debut EP.
The brothers are among more than 13,000 Year 12 students beginning their ATAR exams this week. Their schedule includes ancient history on Thursday, followed by English on Friday.
The exams come just days after Birdland performed at the Good Day Sunshine festival in Margaret River on Saturday, but the triplets said they remained relaxed and determined to complete the studies they had started before their music career gathered pace.
“It’s never felt like an option to not do ATAR and finish it,” drummer Conrad said.
Oscar acknowledged that staying motivated with schoolwork had been difficult while the band was developing, particularly as none of the brothers had immediate plans to attend university.
Francis said completing the qualification could prove useful if their plans changed in future.
“I guess we all figured, we’ve been at this long, why don’t we just get the ATAR score, just work hard in those last two years, and who knows, we’ll be thankful for it later if we ever decide to do a different path,” he said.
“I’m pretty dead set on music. But, if worst comes to worst, whatever happens in the world, we will have our ATAR score.”
He said the experience had also given the brothers skills in consistency, time management and preparation.
“We would have proved to ourselves that we could work hard and get ready for those exams while doing other things. And I think it’s not just the score, but it’s also the skill set we’ve gotten from it. So it’s like studying, being consistent, going to class every day.”
Alongside their schoolwork, part-time jobs and growing music commitments, the brothers have fitted in instrumental lessons and rehearsals with two school jazz bands and a rock band.
Francis studied maths applications, media production and general art as well as English and ancient history. Conrad took modern history, music and general woodwork, while Oscar studied maths applications, politics and law, modern history and a Certificate II in creative industries.
Despite the demanding workload, the brothers said they would not change their final two years of school.
“Years 11 and 12 were the best high school years of my life,” Francis said.
