Director of Music

Wonderful energy around rehearsals

Our ensemble rehearsals have resumed strongly in Term 3, with students returning with great energy and enthusiasm. We are looking forward to exciting performances, beginning with the Junior Rock Band performing at the upcoming Academic Awards Assembly. We are also pleased to be joining St Mary’s College for our Combined Bands Workshop Day, culminating in a concert. We look forward to sharing the students' hard work and musical achievements with our College community.

Grade 5 and Grade 6 Bands

Students in the Grade 5 and Grade 6 Bands have started to work with the Andante Practice App. A few students are not sure of how to use the app to record the time that they spend practising at home. Please look out for an EdSmart notice with instructions for how to use this valuable practice tool. A reminder that your son needs to bring his music and instrument to school each Monday for band rehearsals and tutorials.

Planning for the Combined Bands Day with St Mary's College is complete. A reminder that this day is Monday, 31 August. Please bring your son to St Virgil’s Junior School as normal on this day. The performance for our workshop day will commence at 2.15pm at the Nagle Centre, St Mary’s College. Please aim to arrive around 2pm to be seated.

Junior School Choir

A reminder that the Junior School Choir has resumed rehearsals for Term 3. There is an open invitation for all boys in Year 3 to 6 to join our choir. No prior experience is needed and there are no auditions. Choir rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 8.30am until 9.00am in the Junior School Hall. Boys must be on time. All Choir members from last year are encouraged to continue on this year.

In discussing this opportunity with your son, please take note of the following conditions and expectations:

• There will be a trial period of three weeks for anyone who is interested in joining.
• After this trial period, if your son would like to remain in the choir the commitment is for the remainder of the year. Being a part of the choir is being part of a team.
• Once committed, if your son changes his mind, he must first speak with Mrs Messer and Mr Hope with his reasons for withdrawal. He cannot simply stop turning up.
• Attendance at our weekly rehearsal and performances are compulsory.
• In order to achieve our best as a team, the boys need their best in every rehearsal. A high standard of behaviour is expected.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Mr Peter Hope at phope@stvirgils.tas.edu.au

Ensemble Opportunities at the Senior School

Opportunities for students to play in music ensembles at the Senior School are growing. There are now three ensembles that students can join. 

Please see the details below of each ensemble:

Junior Rock Band

Rehearsal Time: Thursdays at Recess in The Music Rooms with Mr Pregnell and Mr Park

Senior Vocal Ensemble

Rehearsal Time: Thursdays at Lunch in the Music Rooms with Mr Thomson

Southern Aurora Stage Band 

Rehearsal Time: Thursdays after school from 3.30pm to 4.30pm with Ms Ball and Music Tutors

Bandsman of the Week

Students who are named as Bandsman of the Week demonstrate exemplary behaviour during rehearsals and tutorials, bring all of the necessary equipment on Mondays (instrument, music folder, and practice sheet), and have demonstrated a dedicated home practice schedule. 

Congratulations to Alex Hill and Alfie Wojcik in Grade 5 and Archie Bugg and Cooper Puglisi in Grade 6 for being recognised as Bandsman of the Week.