Music
The Music Department has hit the ground running this year and is preparing for a big year ahead.
Ensembles have been busily rehearsing and already there have been some performances. The Charlton Music Centre has regained the daily buzz that was for too long missing as students have their lessons, practice and run sectionals. There is a lot to celebrate and get excited about.
Symphonic Band Concert with Grainger Wind Symphony
Saturday, March 25 saw the Blackburn High School Symphonic Band participate in a workshop and concert with the Grainger Wind Symphony.
The Grainger Wind Symphony is one of the
pre-eminent community bands in Melbourne and it was a great opportunity to work and perform with them at Blackburn High School. Both ensembles performed their own pieces before combining to create a 90-piece ensemble that presented Shortcut Home and The Gumsuckers March.
Being able to sit next to adult musicians and see what we are aiming for will set us up well for the rest of the year.
VCE Success
Congratulations to 2022 year 12 students David G and Michael B for their achievements in VCE music.
Both have been part of the VCE Top Class performances for excellence in their 2022 end of year assessments.
David for Music Styles and Composition and Michael for Music Performance (Oboe).
David is also the proud recipient of the Margaret Schofield Scholarship for government school students studying Music at a Tertiary level in Australia.
David is currently studying composition at Monash University, whilst Michael has begun his Music Course at the University of Melbourne.
Joining our alumni is Logan G who is also studying at University of Melbourne as part of the Jazz/Improvisation stream.
We are very proud of the achievements of all of our alumni and wish them well for the future.
Fundraising efforts
We are always working to improve our facilities and for many years, have been looking to update the pianos that our young musicians have access to.
At the end of 2022, we took ownership of a brand-new Kawai Grand Piano. Purchased through years of fundraising through concerts and other events.
This piano has already become an integral part of the program and provides our students with the equipment they need to perform to their best. To everyone who has bought tickets to our concerts or participated in fundraising events, we thank you. This is what your contributions have resulted in.
We are very excited to announce recent additions to our Music team in the String department.
Phillip Green – Joining us as Conductor of the Chamber Strings. Mr. Green is an immensely experienced musician. Amongst his many achievements, Phillip has been the Principal Cellist of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and conducted ensembles around the world and will be a great fit to the Blackburn High School team.
Year 7 Music
Well done to the year 7 students who have achieved their first term of playing an instrument. I’m sure it has been an exciting time.
Now that students have developed a few skills it is time to start participating in ensembles. These ensembles will begin in Term two and will consist of Quattro Strings (Wednesdays 3:30-4:30am) and the Novice Band (Fridays 7:30-8:30am). These will appear on XUNO. As part of the year 7 program this year, students are participating in group singing. Singing is one of the most fundamental parts of being a musician and we are already seeing great results. A great initiative in the Music Program, it is already being cited as an example of strong music education at the University of Melbourne.
Looking forward to Term 2
At last, we are returning to Generations in Jazz the largest festival of its type in the Southern Hemisphere! Held from Friday, May 5 to Sunday May 7, BHS Jazz ensembles have a long and proud history at this event and can’t wait to return.
This year the Senior Jazz Orchestra, Intermediate Big Band, Thursday Big Band and a Vocal Group will be making the trip and have been working extremely hard in preparation.
We look forward to you hearing them when they return at the Midyear Concert that will be staged on Wednesday, May 24 and feature all the ensembles in the program.
A number of our students will be participating in the North Eastern Victorian Regional Concert at Hamer Hall on Monday May 29. It is certainly a big term ahead.