Music & Band
Mid-Year Soiree - Tomorrow Night!
Mid-Year Soiree Raffle! - Drawn TOMORROW!
We have some amazing prizes for our Mid-Year Soiree (our only fundraiser for the year).
Tickets are $1.00 each. Payment by eftpos or cash.
Final raffle ticket sales will be available to purchase before the Soiree begins at 6.00pm (cash and eftpos sales)
The raffle will be drawn tomorrow evening at the Mid-Year Soiree.
Good luck and thank you to everyone who has supported the BPS Band Program!
A wonderful new prize has been added!
4 tickets to Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's 'Winter Gala'
Featuring:
Jaime Martín - conductor
Danielle de Niese - soprano
Featuring songs from classic musicals by Gershwin, Bernstein and more.
Ginastera Variaciones Concertantes
Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
About this performance
Our Winter Gala will warm you up with a trip to Buenos Aires for Ginastera's Variaciones concertantes, which expertly combines classical and Latin music in the Argentinian composer's unique (and ultra-cool) style. Also playing it cool is Leonard Bernstein’s suite of symphonic dances from West Side Story. You’ll want to snap your fingers in time with the rhythm, just like the Jets in this mid-century take on Romeo and Juliet. It’s catchy, it’s jazzy, and our Chief Conductor Jaime Martín will be dancing along from the podium.
Our concert also features Melbourne-born soprano and TV star Danielle de Niese. She has sung for the Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden, and recorded with Hans Zimmer for the music in Ridley Scott’s film Hannibal. A fantastic storyteller, Danielle will bring drama and joy to the stage with some of your favourite selections from classic musicals by Gershwin, Bernstein and more.
Also, your chance to win a FAMILY PASS to see Alison Lester's book 'Imagine' Live on Stage at The Round!
Mid-Year Soiree (Tomorrow) Thursday 11th June!
We are looking forward to seeing you at tomorrow evening's Soiree!
The evening will begin at 6.00pm.
If you have not yet given permission on the Compass Event, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you.
A reminder that all student performers are to arrive at 5.30pm.
Students have been asked to bring their:
- instrument
- sheet music
- drink bottle
- warm jacket
- something quiet to do while waiting to perform (eg: deck of cards, book – NO DEVICES)
ALL items (including clothing) MUST have students’ name clearly labelled
Performance Clothing
A reminder that ALL PERFORMERS are to wear:
• Plain black full-length pants / leggings / skirt (black full-length leggings or opaque (not sheer) stockings under skirts - NO bare legs please
• Black socks and black shoes
• Long hair tied off face (hair accessories to match hair colour) NO colourful bows etc.
• Short hair neatly brushed
• No make-up or jewellery to be worn (stud / sleeper earrings only)
Choir
If you own more than one coloured tee, it would be greatly appreciated if you could bring them along.
To assist students who need to change their tees, please pack clothes in a separate bag and ensure tees are clearly labelled.
Thank you! Please contact Lisa Shacklock if you have further questions.
Rehearsal - 2.00pm tomorrow
All performers will do a rehearsal / walk-through (without instruments) after lunch tomorrow afternoon. This will familiarise students with their movements before, during and after they perform.
Performers will stay with their band / ensemble during the evening. When not performing, they will sit in front of the stage, supervised by staff, to watch their peers perform. Siblings are to sit with parents during the concert.
Grades 3 & 4 Excursion - Carnival of the Animals
On Friday 28th August, Term 3 all Grades 3 and 4 students will be attending an Arts Excursion to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO).
The MSO have invited students to submit their drawings of the animals (see picture) which may be selected to be shown at the performance.
Students have the information below in their Music Showbie folders.
All drawings to Mrs Shacklock no later than next Friday 19th June.
Term 2 Musical Performances
The Arts in Our Community
There are so many wonderful events accessible to us in our community, but sometimes we don't know about them unless we (or someone we know) are involved in them!
Below is a range of musical events suitable for families with children of various ages. Attending orchestral concerts, theatre or dance productions with family and friends is a really special experience. I used to take my own kids to events like these starting from a very young age. We still talk about the time we played instruments with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and when we saw the MSO playing the score of Harry Potter while we watched the movie on a gigantic screen. Precious memories in the Shacklock household!
These community events are also on display in the Gym foyer.
Note that ticket availability may have differed since I put up the display!
Also note that students in Grades 3 and 4 will be attending the MSO performance of 'Carnival of the Animals' on Friday 28th August.
2026 Ensemble Rehearsals
- TRAINING BAND – Wednesdays (Gym) with Adrienne Garneau
- GUITAR ENSEMBLE – Wednesdays (Music Classroom) with Alwaynne Strentz
- SYMPHONIC BAND – Thursdays (Gym) with Ken MacDonald
- CONCERT BAND – Fridays (Gym) with Ken MacDonald
- NOVICE GUITAR ENSEMBLE - Fridays (Music Classroom) with Jake Underwood
Please note that all Band and Ensemble rehearsals begin at 7.50am.
Instrumental Vacancies
For anyone who would still like to participate in our Band Program, we have a few available vacancies. If your child is interested in learning any instrument, please contact me for more information at kenneth.macdonald@education.vic.gov.au
BPS Instrumental Music Staff 2026
- Ken MacDonald - Band Co-ordinator, Trumpet and Trombone teacher, Concert Band and Symphonic Band Director
- Adrienne Garneau – Clarinet and Saxophone teacher, Training Band Director
- Alwaynne Strentz - Acoustic & Bass Guitar teacher, Guitar Ensemble Director
- Jake Underwood - Acoustic Guitar teacher, Novice Guitar Ensemble Director
- Jirene Beh - Flute teacher
- Flora Carbo - Clarinet and Saxophone teacher
- Roderick McLeod - Percussion teacher
Yours musically,
Ken Mac (Wed, Thurs, Fri)
Lisa Shacklock - Band Liaison (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)