Performing Arts

From the Music Department

In times like we are experiencing at the moment I always look back in history to see how musicians have gone about bringing joy into people's lives when the world is struggling. In the 1930's Jazz thrived as a joyous celebration and escape from the grips of the Great Depression. I have watched the conductor Daniel Barenboim bring together musicians from Israel and Palestine together to form an Orchestra of the East West Divan. Here is a short youtube clip that captures this work perfectly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UwsZehx3hY

How are we, the musicians of Killester College, going to respond to these times? By doing what we have been doing so well for the past ten years, rehearsing and working together to provide joy and happiness to the community. I would really like to thank all the parents who have continued to support our girls and the instrumental teachers in their music lessons. This is the most crucial step in making sure we have music groups to come back to when we finally meet face to face. Our music staff will now back up your support by commencing online rehearsals for our four major groups with the option of some of the smaller ones also starting up if everything is running smoothly.

The Stage Band completed the first of these rehearsals on Tuesday and, despite a few hiccups, it went quite well. The plan is now to extend this to Senior Vocal Group, Concert Band and Honk. A little further into the term we will look at Heartstrings, Swing Sisters and Year 7 Choir joining them. Rehearsal times will be confirmed across the next week.

The overall plan is to produce a virtual concert that has been recorded by all of our musicians to replace our Winter Concert which almost certainly will not take place in June. This won't be the same as a live performance but all of our girls will learn new skills about recording, accuracy of playing and how important the visual component of performing is.

Here is a link to the New York Philharmonic orchestra performing Bolero to give you an idea of what we are attempting to do.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3UW218_zPo

Here is another from the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra which was streamed live this morning. The first tune here is Charlie Parker's Yardbird Suite. The singer is Camille Thurmann who the girls met last year when the band was here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjJbZetCvGw

Can I also use this opportunity to thank our school leadership team who have done an enormous amount of work already to help all of the school community come to grips with the situation. I call on our senior musicians to really step up here and take on the responsibility of making sure our music department comes out the other end of this stronger and better than when we entered it. I have great confidence that we will.

Mr Bernie Hickey

Music Learning Area Leader