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The Buzz: Music Department Winter Recap

While winter has arrived, the Music Department remains a hub of activity and warmth!

Celebrating Cultural Diversity

It’s been a busy month for concerts and recitals here in the music department with students preparing and performing for the Year 7 Debut Performance, as well as the lunchtime ‘Culture Diversity’ concert, The Ensembles Concert, and the Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 VCE Performances all taking place in our cosy auditorium.

The auditorium was abuzz with our wonderful community of students and teachers for our Cultural Diversity lunchtime event. We enjoyed outstanding performances from our Italian representatives, Dominique and Alessio; our Maori representative, Alyssa; and our First Nations representatives, Taylani and Gigi. We also enjoyed a performance by Corinne, who honored Korean culture by performing a song she loves.

It was a very successful day and we thank all of our students and teachers who came along to support the event, bringing warmth to us on a cold, rainy day.

Year 7 Debut Performance and Ensembles Extravaganza

The Year 7 Debut concert took place last Wednesday night and the Ensembles performances followed. We were thrilled by performances from our Year 7 students for their Debut. Parents and friends were absolutely delighted to see all that hard work pay off in superb fashion.

To kick off the evening, our Music Captain, Ruby Cripps, welcomed the audience and introduced Taylani and Gigi to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country. We also learned about their history and the origins of their respective mobs. Alyssa joined them and what followed was a moving version of the Aboriginal hymn sung in the Yorta Yorta language, “Ngarra Burra Ferra,” to rapturous applause. It was an absolute privilege to witness.

Next up were the Junior and Senior concert bands, directed by Joel Dawson and Adam Coad, followed by the Junior and Senior guitar ensembles. These were directed and supported by Jack Williams, a Cheltenham Secondary College alumnus who has returned to take the reins for Mr Meyer. Mr Meyer, our music classroom teacher, is also currently busy with many tasks, including directing the Avenues Band and the school musical, We Will Rock You.

The Year 7 vocal group wowed the audience with an outstanding version of 'My Way' by Katseye. The large ensembles followed: first, CheltVoices with a smashing version of 'I Want You Back' by the Jackson 5; then, the Stage Band featuring Dominique belting out the Eurythmics hit 'Sweet Dreams'; and finally, an exciting set from our resident DJ, Atom.

While Atom played his set, the stage was prepared for a riveting, high-energy, and professional performance by the Avenues Band. They performed all four of their major repertoire pieces with such skill and energy that it was hard to believe they were secondary school students. The repertoire is currently top secret and all will be revealed when they play in Adelaide for the big games!

The night ended with a mountain of applause and our students were elated by the response.

As instrumental teachers, we couldn’t be prouder of our incredible, hardworking students.

Thank you to all of the parents who support their children involved in our Music Program. We couldn’t do it without you.

Until next time, turn up the volume and enjoy listening to music whenever you can. Your brain will thank you for it.

The following is the Acknowledgement of Country delivered at our music events this term by our First Nations students Taylani and Gigi.

Acknowledgement Of Country

Gigi: 'Hi everyone. Before we begin our lunchtime performance, we would like to acknowledge the Bunurong Peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land our school is built on. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and we thank them for looking after the land, skies, and waterways here in Cheltenham.'

Taylani: 'While we are proud to go to school here in Bunurong country, we also bring our own ancestral connections with us today. My name is Taylani, and my family and mob originate from Kuku yalanji country.'

Gigi: 'And my name is Gigi, and my mob originates from Kuyani country. Today, we are very proud to share a piece of First Nations musical history with you.'

'We will be performing a song called "Ngarra Burra Ferra". This is a beautiful, traditional Aboriginal hymn sung in the Yorta Yorta language. It is a powerful song about hope, freedom, and strength. We hope you enjoy it.'