Music Notes

Nicole Bull, Academic Dean of Performing Arts

Welcome to Term 3

Welcome to a new term of exciting events in Performing Arts. Last week, we performed our Drama and Dance concerts in Dalton Hall and, later on this term, we look forward to holding the Annual Music Concert.  

The Vocal Soiree will also be held this term as well as the String Concert, VCE Music Unit 4 masterclasses and recital, and our Junior School production of Frozen. Please make sure to keep an eye on the diary dates at the end of the Music Notes page.

Annual Music Concert - August 19

It is very exciting that after a two-year absence we can all join together again for our Annual Music Concert at Robert Blackwood Hall on August 19. The night will feature all of our large ensembles and choirs as well as our dancers. Tickets are complimentary, but must be booked here to secure your seat.

More information regarding the day will be communicated to parents within the next week. Please note that uniform for the evening is full winter formal uniform. Boys are required to wear long trousers for this formal occasion. Please borrow some trousers from a friend if your child does not own trousers.

Please do not forget the Sunday rehearsal this Sunday August 7 at Kilvington in the Performing Arts building. All Senior School students in the ensembles and choir are required to attend. A schedule of rehearsal times was forwarded with the Consent2Go last week. 

Dress for this is casual. Students should arrive 10 minutes before their allotted rehearsal time. All students involved in the Concert in Senior School will be required for the massed singing item. I look forward to seeing you all at the Annual Music Concert.

Speech and Drama Concerts

Kathryn Nelson, Speech and Drama teacher

I was very proud of all the students who performed in the Speech and Drama Concerts. Please see accounts from three students who performed on the night.

PREP TO YEAR 4 SPEECH AND DRAMA CONCERT 

Emily Shao, Year 4

On the evening of 27 July, the Prep to Year 4 Speech and Drama students had their concert. Parents, students and the School community were all there to enjoy the show.

There were a variety of plays, including duologues and the large drama ensemble plays. I had the chance to really improve my acting skills and build my confidence by performing on stage. 

It was wonderful to have a live performance on stage after almost two years of being online. I enjoyed performing Cats and acting as a Mum in the drama ensemble play Killing Time. Everyone was on their feet cheering. After all, they had just experienced an extraordinary event.

Holly Krischock, Year 4

The Speech and Drama Concert is always such an exciting experience. You get to express yourself and receive encouragement from a large audience. Performing at the Concert pushes you out of your comfort zone and helps to build your confidence and social skills. 

I had a wonderful time pretending to be a cat and acting out as a sassy sister in the drama ensemble play Another Cinderella. It was so much fun.

There were many performances with the Speech and Drama students from Prep to Year 4 all performing. My favorite aspect of the event is showing everyone what you are made of. It has been the highlight of my year.

YEARS 5 TO 11 SPEECH, DRAMA AND DRAMA CONCERT 

Henry Duncan, Year 8

I really enjoyed the Years 5 to 11 Speech, Drama and Dance Concert this year. It was great to see all the students getting up on stage and having a great time. It was special to me because it was the first time in two years that I could appear live on stage at a concert. 

I had lots of fun acting out the character of the pet shop owner in my duologue scene. I also enjoyed performing in the drama ensemble plays where I made new friends and improved my acting skills and built my confidence in performing.

Visit from Anne Harvey-Nagl, Concertmaster 

On Tuesday 28 July, Anne Harvey-Nagl, Concertmaster – Volksoper Vienna; Koehne Quartet, Vienna visited our Performing Arts students.

Anne began her violin studies in Melbourne with Brian Blake, Nelli Shkolnikova and Spiros Rantos.

In 1986, she was the winner of the 'National Youth Concerto Competition' and in 1990, after graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Distinction), she received the ANZ International Fellowship for musical studies overseas, as well as the Pinschof Foundation Scholarship, enabling her to study with Professor Günter Pichler at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

In 1994, Anne appeared as soloist with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra during their 'Presenting Young Artists' Series.

Anne shared her inspirational story with our students. We are grateful to Anne for taking time out of her busy schedule to give our students such a wonderful opportunity to hear from such a great leader from the musical profession.

Monash Youth Festival 

Lin Yatsuzuka, Year 12

On 24 July, Asteria Chen and I signed up to participate in the Monash Youth Festival. It was a very important experience for us as we had the chance to listen to many high-level performances and receive feedback on our performance. 

After we played our two VCE pieces, we received a short masterclass and two detailed reports that had a score of our performance based on the VCE music performance criteria. 

The opportunity of receiving comments and listening to a wide variety of performances was most valuable. It has helped motivate us to perfect our VCE repertoire for our end-of-year recital. 

Concerto Concert

On Wednesday 22 June, our very first Concerto Concert was held at Deakin Edge, Federation Square. The Concert featured three Concertos, VCE music performers and a massed choir of past and present students accompanied by the Chamber Strings.  

We were fortunate to perform in such a prestigious venue and play alongside some members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Congratulations to all the soloists and performers who spent hours preparing for this concert.

Friday Afternoon Soirees – Term 3

The Friday Afternoon Soirees have started back for Term 3. The Soirees are held in PVC7 from 3.45 to 4.30pm. All KGS music, speech and drama students (ELC to Year 12) are welcome to perform, as well as students who attend lessons outside of School. 

All performances must be booked in, either by writing your name and details of your performance on the Friday Afternoon Soiree forms pinned up on the Notice Board in the Music building foyer, or by emailing Ms Carmel Slater (Head of Keyboard and Theory) at slaterc@kilvington.vic.edu.au.

Items should be no longer than three to four minutes, with a maximum of 15 items per soiree. 

The dates for this term’s Soirees are as follows:

Friday August 5, 12, 26, September 2, 9 and 16. 

Theatre Production – Freaky Friday - are you interested in performing?

Peter Overton, Year 9

At the moment, I am taking part in the Theatrical’s production of Freaky Friday. We are in desperate need of someone to fill one of the roles (see below). 

If you are interested, or know of anyone who would be interested, please contact Peter Overton at overtonp@kilvington.vic.edu.au.

Here is the information for the role:

Name: Parker/Louis. Note – if it is too much to do, then we can split the role.

Gender: Male (unfortunately, Disney copyright does not allow this to be changed).

Vocal range: A2 – A4

Parker: a high school student. Best friends with Wells (played by Peter Overton). Needs to be a competent mover who can pick up choreography, is in a lot of ensemble numbers, has a couple of solo lines and does quite a bit of acting.  

Louis: Weddings magazine photographer, loves his job. Needs to be a strong singer and hold their own in a harmony. Doesn’t have as much movement and doesn’t need to be in all ensemble numbers. Can make it more a featured cameo. 

It is a great opportunity and I would encourage anyone to get involved!

AMEB Exams - Term 3

Diary Dates - Term 3