Performing Arts

Music News

Welcome back everybody. Difficult times again for all of us but I have been really impressed with the way all of our musicians have started the term. Rehearsals have started again for the bands and attendance whether virtual or face to face has been great. It's going to be awkward, difficult and boring sometimes during this lockdown but we hope that the end of term three and term four will give us all a chance to perform.

Music lessons 

will have started again for most girls this week. Again can I say how thankful we all are that our girls are supported by their families and can continue to learn online. Music plays an increasing role in our wellbeing for both the player and the listener and music making during lockdown plays an important role in our mental health.

Killester Eisteddfod (solo competition)- It has taken me about thirty years to know how to spell this Welsh word. In essence we are offering prizes for the best performer in the following three categories: 1. Student who has been learning for less than a year, 2- Student who has been learning for two years and 3- Student who has been learning for three years or more. This is open to all students who play an instrument/sing and there are no instrument categories. Prizes will be a $30,$40 and $50 voucher (1,2,3). We will get an outside adjudicator and the girls will send their performances via Flipgrid. It is encouraged that they have a recorded backing but it is not essential, especially for piano players. We are hoping to hold this late in term three and the girls will be emailed with all the details.

Tutorial with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Our trombone players will be the lucky recipients of a tutorial with the MSO's 2nd Trombone player Mathew Shirley in the coming weeks. This is a great chance for our girls to hear and talk to a world class player and perform for him via videolink. My thanks to Ms. Addis for organising this opportunity.

Melbourne International Jazz Festival - Our Stage Band will also be the lucky recipients of some workshops being presented by the MIJF as part of their festival this year. The focus of the workshops is the participation of females in jazz and since Killester has an all female band ( obviously), we were a natural fit for this. The girls will be tutored by local prominent jazz musician and composer Holly Moore.

 Performances -It is very difficult to predict when and how our groups will be able  to perform over the next few months. Here are some of the "plans" I have in place if all goes well and we can have all the girls back together in one place and hopefully have an audience!

Year 12 Farewell Concert - early Term 4. This may be video streamed if we cannot have an audience. Date will be confirmed soon.

Victorian School Music Festival - currently this will be run in September and the bands will submit a video of their performances for adjudication. Bands involved will be Stage Band, Concert Band and Honk.

Jazz Night - to be held outdoors in the performance area outside the new Tullow building. I am looking at late November and an early Saturday evening with the audience spread out across the seating area.

Stay well and safe everyone and we'll hopefully see everybody soon.

Mr Bernie Hickey

Music Learning Area Leader