Music

Junior School information session

Thanks to those of you who have enrolled in our co-curricular Music program however we know many of you would like more information. Next term we will be launching our Rising Stars Ensemble Program and we would like you to be involved. This is a beginner instrumental program aimed at preparing bands to go to the Victorian School Music Festival young bands day in November. This is a great opportunity to represent the school and learn an instrument. 

Please come to our information session! This will be held at 5pm on Wednesday 5 June in the Ensemble Room of the Performing Arts Centre. After a short presentation about the program, students and parents will be able to try all of the instruments on offer. This will be a great ‘head start’ to classroom music for students in Years 7 and 8 homerooms F-I. Of course, students who have learned an instrument in class this semester and are keen to continue should come too!      

Busy start to Term 2 

The start of term has been an incredibly busy time in the Music Faculty with contributions to three significant College events.  

College ANZAC Ceremony (19 April) and ANZAC Day March (25 April) 

The College came together to commemorate ANZAC day for the 92nd time this year. It was a moving and solemn ceremony. Along with a very engaging guest speaker and the traditional reading of the ode, music was very much on display. Our Drum Corp ‘marched in’ the official party. Our Symphonic Winds performed the traditional ANZAC hymn Abide with Me beautifully. A huge thank you and congratulations to Noah Vallance for sounding the Last Post and Rouse. This is one of the more challenging tasks that a Trumpeter can carry out. He showed an outstanding level of maturity, one may have thought he was much older than 15. 

Each year our College Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble reorganise themselves to form our College Marching Band. This ensemble has a long history of leading the Ballarat ANZAC day march. The boys worked very hard learning the intricacies of not only playing marches, but also coming to attention, changing direction, keeping in step and even managing the wind and the rain! The number of compliments the band received was heart warming!

Performing Arts Centre Grand Opening  

The grand opening of the Performing Arts Centre featured music significantly. Three ensembles and a number of soloists showed their gratitude for this excellent new facility by sharing their skills with the VIPs, staff and other guests. This also showed some great features of the new rooms.

 At the start and the end of the event our Senior Stage Band and Contemporary Band performed from the Ensemble Room to guests who had gathered in the performance courtyard and in the foyers. They provided some light, high energy items to set the celebratory mood of the event. On entry into the theatre, guests saw and heard a montage of videos and photos showing the construction and use of the PAC. This was accompanied by audio recordings of the VCE Music Class. After the unveiling of the official plaque our Fanfare Ensemble, Winds of Change performed Triumphal Fanfare by Christopher Teichler. This majestic work certainly added a sense of class to the occasion. 

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who played on this historic occasion. Thank you also to the ensemble directors and staff who assisted: Mr Matthew Pankhurst (Winds of Change), Mr Tim Snibson (Senior Stage Band) and Mr Thomas Forsyth and Ms Eleanor Parry (Contemporary Ensemble).  

St Pat’s Got Talent 

No doubt you saw the hilarity and talent that was this great event. I was so proud of many of the groups and soloists, many of whom are part of our music program. Some presented works that they have been preparing with their teachers and ensemble directors, other played pieces that were all their own work. The level of artistry was excellent. Some have described this as the highest standard ever! What a day! 

Catholic Education Week Dinner

Another great show of community spirit from three of our boys. Oskar Folkes, Charlie Richardson and Jacon van Raaphorst generously gave up their Friday evening after St Pat’s got Talent to provide music for the 2024 Catholic Education Week Dinner. This is a significant even at which teachers who have been in service for 30 years are recognised. The trio played a delightful mix of standards. Thank you gentlemen! 

Upcoming Music Events 

We are very much looking forward to Music Camp in a few weeks time (31 May - 2 June). There will be a concert in the PAC to close out the camp on Sunday at 3pm. 

Our Annual Soiree will be held of the first time in the Ensemble Room. As well as being an excellent rehearsal venue, this room will be a lovely recital space. We are looking forward to welcoming you on the evening of 11 June. More details soon.

Finally we are very happy to be hosting a large symphonic band from Caulfield Grammar School on Tuesday, 25 June. Our Symphonic Wind Ensemble will be performing a combined concert in the PAC Auditorium in the early evening. This will be the largest group to perform in the new auditorium to date. Another milestone! More details on how to book free tickets in the next edition of The Crest.