Music

Mr Matthew Pankhurst, Head of Music

NEW! Oboe and Basson Lessons

We are delighted to have a new staff member in the Music Department. Mary Dyer joins our Instrumental Team. Ms Dyer is an excellent general woodwind teacher, but brings new skills. She is a specialist in double reeds – specifically Oboe and Bassoon. It is wonderful to have a teacher with these highly specialised skills. We have places for one bassoonist and one or two Oboe players. We have excellent instruments at school and these are available to families for no cost. Parents, if you are interested in lessons on Oboe or Bassoon we are happy to supply a complementary lesson during a lunch time and a one week loan of an instrument to try it out.

Intermediate Band

Pictured is our Intermediate Band in rehearsal and near our sculpture of Blessed Edmund. This ensemble is working a variety of pieces in a wide array of styles. This suits the broad range of instruments in the band. 

 

SPC Stage Band

We are delighted to share some shots of the Stage Band in the brand new Ensemble Room in the Performing Arts Centre. The band's rehearsal was the first ever ensemble to rehearse in the space. As you can see the operable glass wall is a great feature of the space. It opens out onto the Performance Courtyard containing the beautiful sculpture featuring Edmund Rice and Mary Power looking down onto the docks of Waterford. 

 

The acoustics of this room will be an enduring asset. The warmth and clarity of the sound is remarkable. This is a testament to the clever design and use of material. A very sophisticated approach was taken. How did the Stage Band sound? Excellent! They came together to prepare for their performance at the Academic Awards Assembly the following week - staff and students were all highly complimentary about the bands performance. They played five pieces, In The Mood, Chameleon, Pick up the Pieces, Lean on Me and an Earth Wind and Fire medley as a feature piece!

Congratulations and thanks to Mr. Tim Snibson and the members of the Stage Band: 

Josh Gray

Xavier Desfosses

Joseph Elliott

Jack Williamson

Ben Nixon

Noah Vallance

Charlie Richardson

Alex Clark

Rafael Pankhurst

Mr Matthew Pankhurst

Lachlan Hodge

Lucas Martin

Oskar Folkes

Jacob Van Raaphorst

 

Year 7 and 8 Classroom Instrumental Music

 

For many years a key part of the learning experience at St Parick's was learning an instrument for a period of time in the Junior School. This year we are pleased to be relaunching a revised and reinvigorated version of this program. 

 

Pictured is Mr Tim Snibson assisting a number of students who are trialing the Trombone. We are so thankful of the resources we have in Music. Pictured are the class sets of instruments just waiting to go out. All students who are currently doing classroom music will be bringing an instrument home! This semester of work will very likely culminate in a huge celebration concert in the Auditorium of the PAC in Term 2. More details to come once everything is confirmed.