Performing Arts
Killester Winter Music Festival
It was, as they say in the classics folks, a triumph. The Killester choirs and ensembles entertained a capacity crowd of over 350 in Kennedy Hall last Monday night. The concert theme was Heroines, Heroes and Villains. There were very few villains but lots of heroines right through the ranks from Year 7 to Year 12.
The Year 7 and 8 superbands and class ensembles made their debut on the big stage and didn't disappoint the adoring family and friends who came along to support. Heroic tunes such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Game of Thrones and Bunyip Blues were played confidently by students who had only been learning for the past five months.
The Year 7 choir also debuted with a beautiful performance of Castle on a Cloud and When I grow up from the little heroine herself, Matilda.
The Killester Bands; Concert Band, Honk and the multi award winning KC Stage Band along with the newly formed improvisation group provided great variety and fine music making throughout the night. Our Senior Vocal Group and the Swing Sisters demonstrated that singing in the school is alive and well. There was some fine group work through these performances. Heartstrings gave us a beautiful version of one of the great themes from the Mission, Gabriel's Oboe. The VCE soloists, Joanna Guelas, Mikayla Lowther and Maya Micallef performed with style and nuance and the ex-students Rock Band did a fine job of Settling Down.
We farewelled the night with a tribute to Ms Di Stefano and her brother Mark. Mark has not missed a Killester concert for a very long time now and he took centre stage to perform 'We are the Champions' with all of the girls and most of the audience. It was a great way to thank them both for their support over the years. Both of them made the trip to Mt Gambier, SA to support the Stage Band at the Generations in Jazz competition not once, but twice.
My thanks to all of the instrumental staff who work so tirelessly with all of our music students, our Music Captains, Angel Chau and Mikayla Lowther, who compered the night so well, Donna Brunt for her stage and production management , our maintenance crew of Ralph, Scott, Graham and Tony who set the hall up and dismantled the 500 chairs, Penny Curtis for seating and ticketing, Sue Douglas for ticketing, Kylie Taberner for the program and Loretta Hill for the program design. This is a whole school event that could not happen without the full support of all the staff, students and parents. Thank you to everyone concerned.
Bernie Hickey, Music Learning Area Leader
Semester Two Music Lessons
With our year 7's and 8's finishing their semester of learning their instrument of choice, now is the time to consider whether a music journey is one your daughter wants to partake in. Studies have consistently shown that music practice improves the neurological pathways in your brain, creating new ones all the time. Playing a musical instrument lights up more areas of the brain than any other activity. In a world where creativity is being sought after music provides one of the pathways for your daughter to reach her potential. You may receive a letter home with your daughter indicating that she has shown promise on her instrument. Please contact Mr.Hickey or Mr. Vague in the music office if you wish for your daughter to take up lessons in Semester Two.