In Praise of Music ...

Celebration of Song

On Wednesday 31 July more than 400 parents and friends gathered to hear over 180 performers fill the Community Hub with beautiful music. All the Donvale choirs performed, comprising the Foundation, Junior, Intermediate and Advanced vocal ensembles, together with the Junior and Senior Secondary Worship bands and the Intermediate Bellringers. 

The evening opened with our Junior Worship band leading the audience in praise and then the Foundation choir of Year 3 and 4 students singing Rockin’ Robin (accompanied by squeaky toys). 

There was an expansive mix of musical pieces from tongue twisters, classical choral, beautiful bellringing, familiar jazz standards to contemporary songs finishing with the Altonatives with an a cappella rendition of “Beginning to see the light’. 

Well done for a wonderful night of music.  

Victorian Schools Music Festival (VSMF)

Less than a week after the Celebration of Song concert, our Junior, Intermediate and Advanced Vocal ensembles attended the VSMF on Monday 5 August. This festival is a wonderful opportunity for choirs to perform to other schools and although not a traditional ‘competition’, the students receive awards depending on how well they present their selection of music. Performances are judged by well-known adjudicators, among them Vicki King, director of the Australian Girls Choir.

Our Junior Vocal Ensemble was awarded a gold, and our Intermediate and Advanced Vocal Ensembles were both awarded platinum, which is exceedingly rare as it indicates the ultimate achievement of excellence in their division. 

Our students were gracious and appreciative audience members for other schools that performed and have demonstrated the important skill of audience etiquette. Parents should be immensely proud of their young vocalists.