Musician and Composer of the Year

On Thursday 5 October, the Annual Girton Grammar Musician and Composer of the Year recital was held in the Black Box Theatre. Students from VCE Music Performance Unit 2 and Unit 4, as well as students from VCE Unit 4 Composition, presented both live and prerecorded performances. 

The first part of the evening was dedicated to performances from the VCE Music Performance classes. Students presented both solo and accompanied performances of repertoire from a wide range of sources. The evening began with the hushed tones and atmospheric wonder of a Debussy piano prelude before moving through an array of genres and eras such as musical theatre, contemporary saxophone, contemporary guitar and vocal jazz. 

Following these wonderful performances, the VCE Music Composition class presented their major compositions that they had spent months working on under the guidance of Mrs Bartlett. Each composition was presented as either a live or prerecorded performance, and the students were on hand to address the audience on the challenges and joys of composition. 

The Girton Chamber Choir directed by Ms Jennifer Schatzle then presented a musical interlude while the formalities of adjudication were completed. The Chamber Choir presented two songs, 'Love Me Sweet' and 'Cry Me A River'. 

Finally, the panel of adjudicators – Mrs Laura Dusseljee, Mrs Rachel Levett, Mr Josh McGuffie and Mrs Cally Bartlett – returned to announce the winners for both Musician and Composer of the Year. 

It was the great pleasure of the panel to award the 2023 Musician of the Year to Amelie Woodward of 11 Jones for her performance of the saxophone piece 'And Everything is Still' by Andy Scott, accompanied by Mrs Cheryl Long.

The panel was then delighted to award the 2023 Composer of the Year to Kira Moloney of 11 Frew for her original composition ‘Decline of a Desolate Disposition’.

A special thanks to all the instrumental instructors, teachers and students involved; Mrs Cheryl Long for her tireless support and work as an accompanist to all of our music students; Mr Adrian Hodda, Mr Dave Plathe and the Tech Team; Mr Mark Beever and the Marketing Team; Mr Luke Jenkins and the Maintenance Team; and the Friends of Performing Arts for their ongoing support.