Senior School Performing Arts

Camerata Competition

Performing Arts staff were thrilled with the record number of students who entered this year’s junior and senior Camerata Competition. The external adjudicators commented on the high calibre of all students who entered, and found the process of choosing winner and runner up difficult. We applaud all students who participated in this years’ competition.  

Congratulations to the following students:

Junior Division

Winner – Samuel Martin

Runner Up – Bonnie McPhee

Senior Division

Joint Winners – Oliver Wong (at left) and Alex Caban 

The Camerata Concert, which features all soloists, will be held at 6pm Friday 19 May in the DPA – please make a note in your diary to come along and listen to our wonderful musicians! 

Music Camp

Music Camp provided a wonderful three days of outdoor activities, intensive rehearsals and camaraderie.  Students from Years 7 to 12 worked together to develop some excellent ensemble playing in Orchestra, Concert Band, Stage Band and Chamber Strings.  This year we were joined by some of our visiting tutors, many of whom who have had extensive orchestral careers, who tutored sectional rehearsals for orchestra, concert band and stage band.  

Thank you to Chris Perrin (trumpet, trombone) Tony Grimm (double reeds and saxophone) Lindsay Irik (violin) Karin Hentschel (flute) and Luke Moxey (viola, piano).

Thank you to family and friends who attended the end of camp concert in the DPA. Thank you to our expert staff members Katie Sinclair, Lorraine Moxey, Joanne Lenton, Luke Moxey, Katherine Howarth, and Heidi Anthony who ran rehearsals and outdoor activities during camp; thank you also to our amazing Music Administrator Sharon Martin, who managed logistics and kept everyone well fed.  Finally, thank you to our wonderful music leaders Michelle Hayes, Zachary Annett, Oliver Wong, Stephanie Wong, Toby Gough, Max Bloomfield, Isaac Birmili and Greta Bourne who looked after their teams and helped behind the scenes to make Music Camp such a success.

ANZAC Day: 25 April 2023

Marching Band will again be participating at the City of Orange ANZAC Day March. Students are to meet Ms Anthony and Mrs Shields in Byng Street, near Kmart Tyres at 9.30am sharp.  Marching Band students should be dressed in full school uniform (including polished shoes) and bring with them their unpacked instrument, music and marching lyre. 

Marching Band will be holding a final rehearsal in the Music Department at 2pm Monday 24 April.  Further details of this event are on the Hub and have been emailed to relevant families.

Nomad String Quartet Worshop

Kinross Wolaroi School Chamber Strings were treated to an afternoon workshop and concert given by the Nomad String Quartet.

The Nomad String Quartet is based in Sydney and performs classical, folk, world music, jazz and other improvised traditions. On this occasion they asked Mrs Moxey to take Chamber Strings through some interesting Danish folk music prior to the quartets arrival. This was the music that was rehearsed in the workshop and gave our students an experience of this fascinating folk culture. Every student was taught and given the opportunity to improvise in this folk style taking them way outside their normal comfort zone.

The afternoon culminated in a short concert given to other Kinross music students where the Nomad quartet and the Kinross Wolaroi String Quartet combined to perform a work called “Five Sheep, Four Goats”. Mrs Moxey and Mrs Shields received wonderful feedback from the Nomad Quartet praising the high standard of our Chamber Strings.

Mrs Moxey, Co-ordinator of Strings

Orange Chamber Music Festival

Our School recently hosted the Orange Chamber Music Festival Gala Opening event, which featured a stunning performance by the Queensland Camerata Chamber Orchestra and baritone saxophonist Dr Jay Byrnes. Prior to the commencement of the concert, Thompson String Ensemble, under the direction of Mrs Lorraine Moxey, entertained patrons.

An extract of Limelight Magazine’s review of the concert said:

'From the warm welcome into the Kinross Wolaroi School’s Derek Pigot Auditorium from the Kinross Wolaroi School's Thompson Ensemble, it seemed the change from city to country air flowed into the experience of listening. You could pin moments of the music onto the valleys and winding roads that brought you here.'

Maddy Briggs, Limelight Magazine March 13.

Congratulations to members of the Thompson Ensemble, as well as our amazing saxophone tutor Dr Byrnes. We are super proud of you all!

Orange Winter Jazz Festival

Friday 9 June at the Royal Hotel

Kinross Wolaroi School Stage Band has been invited to play for the Orange Winter Jazz Festival.  Please come along to support them at 6pm Friday 9 June in the bistro of the Royal Hotel. Details of this performance have been emailed to relevant families. 

Congratulations Anabelle

Anabelle recently won first place in the secondary category of the Australian National Busking Championships regional final. This has earned her a spot at the National Championships in Cooma where she will compete against the other regional category winners. 

AMEB Esaminations 

AMEB Exams are a great way to encourage your child’s musical development by creating a tangible goal to work towards each year. Exams are also an excellent performance opportunity that recognises a students’ progression and achievement through structured grades.

Enrolments for AMEB exams are due by Friday 8 May. Please speak with your instrumental teacher to find out whether you need to enrol your child for an AMEB instrumental exam. Exams will be held onsite at School, with exact dates to be confirmed closer to the date. Central West NSW dates are expected to be held between July 10 2023 and August 9 2023.

Should you have any queries regarding AMEB examinations for your child, don’t hesitate to contact Sharon Martin, Music Administrator at performingarts@kws.nsw.edu.au or Katherine Howarth, Instrumental Music Coordinator at kahowarth@kws.nsw.edu.au

Baby Grand Piano for sale

John Broadwood & Sons London Baby Grand Piano for sale. With original parts and last tuned in 2018, this piano is looking for a larger home as it is too big for the available space we have at Kinross Wolaroi School.

From reputable piano makers John Broadwood and Sons - London, this baby grand requires some restoration.

$400 plus cost of removal.

Please contact Katherine Howarth at kahowarth@kws.nsw.edu.au if interested.