Music News
JMSS Music Report: Term Three Update
Term 3 is flying by, and the Music House is rocking! It’s always a huge term for music events, and this year is no different.
On 28 July, students from the JMSS Chamber Choir joined forces with singers from Highvale and Vermont Secondary College to perform at the NEVR Youth Concert – Spotlight at the Melbourne Recital Centre. They presented four African songs in a massed choir directed by Lam Nguyen, with our own fantastic Loz Irwin-Ray on African percussion. One of our VCE musicians, Daniel Feng, was also selected from 47 schools to perform Gershwin’s Three Preludes as a solo feature - an incredible achievement. Well done, Daniel!
Just a week later, the same Chamber Choir musicians earned a Silver Medal at the Victorian School Music Festival, where they performed and participated in an engaging on-stage masterclass. Excellent work, Chamber Choir!
Week 3 brought our famous Music Camp at Don Bosco Campground, Safety Beach, with every seat on two buses filled both ways. Students enjoyed a guest workshop in African dance and percussion led by acclaimed local musicians Roderick McCleod and Appiah Annan - Appiah teaching an African hip hop dance routine, and Rod guiding students through djembe rhythms and techniques. Other highlights included a beach walk, campfire marshmallow roasting, arts and crafts, music genre games, trivia night, gaga ball tournaments, and of course, plenty of community music-making. Students have already begun preparing exciting items for Presentation Night 2025 - watch this space! A huge thanks to all the music executives and music teachers who make this camp such a highlight of our yearly calendar. Another special thanks to two of our honorary music team - George Vlamakis and Jess Perry. Official "Friends of Music."
We still have several exciting music events coming up for the remainder of this term:
- Monday 25 August – JMSS Concert Band at the Victorian School Music Festival
- Thursday 4 September – Spring Soirée – our next large concert of the year. Don’t miss it!
- Wednesday 10 September – Battle of the Bands!
A huge thanks to everyone who helps our JMSS music community thrive and hum with excitement.
~ Sean Smyth (Head of Music)
