Music News

Music - Choirs & Ensembles

Welcome to the 2025 school year!  We are excited to launch our instrument ensembles and auditions, and will also share further information soon regarding choir opportunities. Please continue to check the newsletter for updates on the music program.

Music Program Information Evening 

Please mark your calendars for 27 February 2025 for a Music Program Information Evening, a session for families considering the music program for choir, instrument lesson EOI, and ensembles. This session will be informative particularly for students new to the music program and/or new to the school. Details regarding the MPIE session will be included in next week's newsletter.

Ensembles Commencing Week 4

The following ensembles launch in this coming week:

• Concert Band: Commences Monday 17 February, 7:50am-8:40am* *Revised timetable for the first two weeks of rehearsal, to allow for auditions
• Training Band: Commences Thursday 20 February, 7:50am-8:40am* *Revised timetable for the first two weeks of rehearsal, to allow for auditions
• Guitar Ensemble: Commences Monday 17 February, 3:10pm
• Junior Chinese Music Ensemble:  Commences Wednesday 19 February, 3:10pm
• Advanced Chinese Music Ensemble: Commences Thursday 20 February, 3:10pm
• String Group: Commences Thursday 20 February, 7:20am
• Stepping Stones: Commences Friday 21 February, 7:20am

The following ensembles will commence in the coming weeks, and start dates will be shared with the ensemble members:

• Intermediate Strings: no rehearsal in Week 4 
• Orchestra: no rehearsal in Week 4 (19 Feb) due to auditions
• Chamber String Ensemble: no rehearsal in Week 4 (17 Feb) due to auditions

Choirs

We will be offering choirs this year in a restructured format, with exciting opportunities for Years 1-2 students and Years 3-6 students.  Details regarding the choir opportunities will be shared with the school community in the coming weeks, including an overview of the choir offerings and the application process for choir participation. 

Please stay tuned for further information to be posted here in the newsletter, along with a process for expressions of interest. 

Ensembles

Following is an outline of the music instrument ensembles offered at Chatswood Public School. We have a broad range of ensembles led by amazing music directors, and will be keen to have new and returning members join ensembles this year. 

• Training Band: Beginning ensemble for students with at least 6 months of brass, wind and percussion instrument learning. 
• Concert Band: Ensemble work for students with a minimum of one year's instrument experience and ensemble experience. Positions may be audition based. 
• Guitar Ensemble: Ensemble work and solo development, for students with some 
• Junior Chinese Music Ensemble: Beginning and intermediate experience in Chinese music instruments, including guzheng, pipa, dize, erhu. 
• Advanced Chinese Music Ensemble: Advanced ensemble work in Chinese music instruments. Audition based. 
• Orchestra: Advanced ensemble including wind, brass and string instruments. Audition based. 
• Stepping Stones: Beginning string ensemble for students with at least 6 months of string instrument lessons. 
• Intermediate Strings: Intermediate level string ensemble for students with instrument learning and a level of ensemble experience.  
• String Group: Advanced string ensemble, with several years' experience in ensemble work and high level of individual instrument proficiency
• Chamber String Ensemble: Advanced string ensemble, with extensive experience in ensemble work and high level of individual instrument proficiency. Audition based. 

Joining an Ensemble

Students who are returning from last school year, are welcome to join the core ensembles as they resume rehearsals. 

Students new to Chatswood Public or new to ensembles at school are welcome, and are requested to complete an Expression of Interest online form. The link to this Music Program EOI form will be published in next week's newsletter. 

We are keen to welcome students to our range of ensembles; there is a place for almost every musician in the ensembles, with the exception of keyboard (piano) and percussion musicians due to the balance of voices in an ensemble. Please share your interest via the forthcoming EOI form, and we will coordinate with the ensemble directors on the possibilities. 

Call for Chinese Music Ensemble members:

We are looking for any student that is interested or can play a Chinese instrument such as guzheng, erhu, pipa and dizhi. 

The Chinese Music Ensemble auditions are offered on Monday 17 February 3:30-4:15, Wednesday 19 February 3:15-4:00, Thursday 20 February 3:15-4:00. All Chinese music lessons and auditions are in B Block Music Room. 

Auditions for Advanced Ensembles

Our advanced ensembles include Jazz Band, Orchestra, Chamber String Ensemble and Advanced Chinese Music Ensemble. Selection to these ensembles is by audition with the music director(s). Students interestedin auditioning for consideration will please have a proficiency of at least AMEB 3 or above, and will have extensive experience in ensemble work. Auditioning students will prepare their own selection of a short piece or segment, and will also participate in a sight reading exercise. 

To sign up for an audition:

• Audition sign ups will be posted on the Extra Curricular noticeboards in the Covered Cafe (outside A Block). 
• Audition forms will be available at the student counter, and will please be completed and signed by the student and a guardian prior to audition.
• Auditions are offered on various days according to director availability. All students interested in auditioning will have an opportunity to do so; if the audition sign-ups are full, please contact the music program via the school office and we will work to find another available time. 

Please confer with your child before signing up for an audition or ensemble participation, to ensure that they wish to join and that they understand the commitment to an ensemble, with weekly rehearsals and individual practice at lessons and at home.