Music Program
Inaugural MGSC Strings Concert
Last week MGSC held our first ever Strings Concert. This was a wonderful milestone for this program with the expansion last year of the Specialist program from being only Concert band, to now include orchestral Strings. We now offer three levels of Strings Orchestra and are working towards being able to offer a full Symphony Orchestra within two years.
Monday night’s perfromances included the three ensembles and a selection of solos, duets and small groups of students across all year levels. I would like to acknowledge both Alex Mikhailova (violin and viola) and Liam Cullen (cello) for their work with these students.
Whilst several of us get to work with the students in ensemble, their individual progress with their playing stems from their instrumental teachers. Thanks to guitar teacher David Seedsman for inspiring just a few students at this early stage to expand their playing skills to include double bass, and also Eric Ho for accompanying.
Wendy Harvey
Director of Performing Arts
Choral @ Melbourne
On the first Sunday in May, Madrigal and Allstar Choir met Ms West, Ms Harvey and Mr Ho for a warm-up at the Good Shepherd Chapel at the Abbotsford Convent near Collingwood.
This event had 12 choirs singing throughout the day - a choral in the round so to speak. We began the event at 11am with songs by the combined Madrigal and Choir as well as a bracket of the Madrigal ensemble on its own. Each year we have shared this concert with another school group but this time we were asked for a 40 minute concert on our own which was quite challenging to get all up to an excellent standard.
The students sang really well and the audience were quite delighted - there were many positive comments about the choir and also the soloists who sang on their own. Before the concert many people asked where they were from, not recognising their uniforms, so lots of kudos went to our school! One man said, "They're a long way away from here!"
The songs ranged from music theatre ('Hamilton', 'Miss Saigon' and 'Dear Evan Hansen') through traditional choral (Don Gato), jazz (Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy) and pop/country (Taylor Swift's ' Mean' , the theme from Barbie and others). The Madrigal also performed a new choral piece 'There Is No Rose' in Latin which was inspired by the works of 11th Century German Benedictine Abbess, Hildegard von Bingen. Instead of a lute, we were accompanied on the acoustic guitar by Maisy Woodhouse. She was amazing!
Senor Don Gato has left an impression!
Senor Don Gato has left an impression!
Thank you to the wonderful Ms Wendy Harvey and Mr Eric Ho who accompanied Madrigal and Allstar Choir and to all of the soloists: Bianca Petta, Katerina Zouzoulas, Tara Haigh, Estelle Morgan-Banks, Yolanda Kang, Verity Weetman, Natalie Bussa, Morgan Teniseli-Carmichael and Amaris Li.
Ms Blanka West
Voice Teacher/Choral Director
Stage Band supporting Melba Big Band
The Stage Band under the direction of Sue Cook will be part of a very special event on Sunday 25 May. They will be supporting the all-female Melba Big Band at Mentone RSL for an afternoon of swinging sounds. Classics with a dash of modern and perhaps dancing. It's a ticketed events for non-members. Contact melba.big.band.au or
Music Camp
Information will be coming out soon calling for registration for the 2025 Music Camp. The camp will run from Thursday 20 July 30- Saturday 1 Auust at the Oasis Camp in Mt Evelyn.
This camp is offered to all music students from Year 8-12 and is three full days of workshops and new music-making opportunities. (Year 7 students with prior learning will be invited).
To allow everyone a break from the music, there are non-musical activities that students can select. The evening activites are led by our Senior students and this camp is always a lot of fun but also very productive. This year, we have sought direct input from our student leaders and included some suggestions from them as to how we can continue to improve what we can offer. There has been a strong indication that many studens would like some time to work in groups that they form themsleves ans so we are looking into how we can best offer these additional sessions. Got an idea, share it!
Performing Arts Calendar
2025 Performing Arts Calendar - Amended and updated as required
Thursday 22 May - House Performance with special guest adjudicator, Rob Mills
Ms Wendy Harvey
Director of Performing Arts