Senior School Performing Arts

Tryband – An opportunity for Year 7 students

This is a final call for TryBand participants as we begin this exciting program next week.

TryBand is a program that allows students to learn a band instrument, free of charge, in a 5-week program. The TryBand program will run on Thursday afternoons from Thursday 2 March to Thursday 30 March, 3.30pm-5.00pm. All lessons will be conducted in the Music Centre.

Students will be allocated an instrument from the following based on their preference:

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone

Students will be issued with an instrument and will participate in group lessons run by specialist instrumental tutors. Group lessons with tutors will run for 30 minutes, followed by a full band rehearsal for the remainder of the session.

TryBand is a wonderful opportunity for Year 7 students who have either not learnt an instrument before or have learnt an instrument in the past but would like the opportunity to try something new. TryBand also allows students to be part of a beginner-level music ensemble, enhancing teamwork, motivation, and positive social interactions. 

Please click on the link to register, or contact Miss Katherine Howarth, Instrumental Coordinator at kahowarth@kws.nsw.edu.au

https://forms.office.com/r/BNMvegs5jC

Camerata Competition

Each year we hold our Camerata Competition, a performance-based competition offering our secondary music students the opportunity to perform music of a high standard to a panel of adjudicators. Students who enter the competition are invited to perform at the Camerata Concert in the School Chapel on 19 May 2023.

We hope to encourage students at a level of AMEB Grade 4 and above to enter the competition for 2023. The maximum performance time for each competitor is 6 minutes. The competition will be run during the school day on Wednesday 22 March, in room 68, and students will be notified of when they are scheduled to arrive, warm up and perform.

The competition is an excellent opportunity for students to perform works they have been working on over the past year or new pieces they feel confident in performing.

To sign-up for the 2023 Camerata Competition, please fill out the following form via the link here by Friday the 10th of March: https://forms.office.com/r/4NeX7VdWw2

We hope you will consider this opportunity, and we look forward to seeing many entries. Please contact Miss Howarth kahowarth@kws.nsw.edu.au or Mrs Shields jshields@kws.nsw.edu.au for further information.

Co-curricular Ensembles

Our co-curricular music ensembles have recently commenced.  If you would like your child to join one of our ensembles, please contact Mrs Shields at jshields@kws.nsw.edu.au

Playing in a music ensemble has many benefits for children, including developing social skills, building confidence and learning how to be a team player. Learning music helps cognitive development, improves recall and retention of verbal information, and advances Mathematics and English skills.  Aside from this, playing in an ensemble is fun!

The timetable of ensembles is attached/below. 

COVID-19 RISK MITIGATION

As a courtesy, students who are unwell should not attend rehearsals.

Instrumental Staffing

There have been several changes to our instrumental staff this year and we warmly welcome the following new members of staff:

Ms Lindsay Irik – Junior School String Coordinator

Lindsay joins us from Knox Grammar School, where she has been Director of Strings and Coordinator of String Ensembles K-12 for the past 16 years.  Lindsay has extensive orchestral and chamber music experience as a violinist, violist and conductor.  She is an experienced string teacher with many years of teaching students from Kindergarten to Year 12; Lindsay regularly performs for HSC Music examinations. 

Lindsay will be at school Monday to Wednesday each week and will work with Mrs Lorraine Moxey to foster our wonderful string program.  Lindsay will predominately work with our Junior School students whilst Lorraine will concentrate on our Senior School students. Mrs Moxey has stepped back to four days a week so that she can enjoy time with her first grandchild. 

Mr Tony Grimm – Bassoon & Oboe Teacher

Tony studied bassoon performance at Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has played with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Philharmonia Choirs and the Metropolitan Orchestra. Tony teaches at a number of leading independent schools in Sydney and is an ensemble tutor at the ARTS Unit.  He has both taught and played for many HSC Music students.

Ms Karin Hentschel – Flute Teacher

Karin studied flute with Michael Scott at Sydney Conservatorium and has considerable experience teaching flute to students from a young age to HSC level. She taught flute for many years at Roseville College and Ascham and has been an adjudicator for the Flute Society of NSW.  Karin replaces Ms Emma Knott, who is teaching at Hume Conservatorium in Goulburn.  We look forward to working with Karin this year.

Ms Annette Houghton – Piano Teacher

Annette comes to us from SCEGGS Redlands, where she has taught piano and musicianship for the past 27 years.  Annette has considerable experience in teaching piano students from pre-kinder to HSC and is also an accompanist and choral conductor.  Annette is a welcome addition to our team.

Mr Luke Ferguson – Bass Guitar & Guitar

Luke studied bass guitar and voice at Southern Cross University. He plays a wide range of contemporary styles as has performed with artists including Pete Murray, Busby Marou, Jasmine Rae and Mickey Bomoa from the John Butler Trio. Luke plays with Andrew Claremont’s Supper Club and blues band Marshall and the Fro. 

Private Instrumental and Vocal Tuition

The School engages 26 highly qualified visiting tutors who offer a wide variety of instrumental and vocal lessons.  

Private tuition is available for the following instruments:

• Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophones, Bassoon
• Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Euphonium, Tuba
• Percussion: Drum Kit
• Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar (Contemporary & Classical), Bass Guitar
• Voice: Contemporary & Classical
• Piano

ALL new and returning students must complete a 2023 Enrolment Form for private tuition. Lessons cannot commence until forms have been returned to the Performing Arts Administrator. Instrumental tutors will contact families with a lesson time once forms have been returned.  The enrolment form can be accessed in the following document.

Should you have any queries regarding co-curricular music ensembles or instrumental tuition please do not hesitate to contact the Music Administrator, Mrs Sharon Martin at performingarts@kws.nsw.edu.au, Mrs Jacqueline Shields, Head of Performing Arts at jshields@kws.nsw.edu.au or Mrs Katie Sinclair, Junior School Music Coordinator at ksinclair@kws.nsw.edu.au

KEY DATES FOR TERMS 1 & 2

Camerata Competition - Wednesday 22 March 

Term 1 Music Camp - Friday 24 March – Monday 27 March

ANZAC Day - Tuesday 25 April (Concert Band marching)

Band Concert (Junior & Senior ensembles) - Friday 5 May 5:30pm 

Camerata Concert - Friday 19 May 6:30pm

Performing Arts Elective Night - Wednesday 24 May 5:30pm

Junior School Performing Arts Evening - Thursday 1 June 5:30pm

Music Festival - Thursday 8 June 6:30pm

Congratulations to our 2023 cast for Little Shop of Horrors!

Well done also to everyone who auditioned - for demonstrating courage, tenacity, creativity and for stepping outside of your comfort zone! We really hope you will audition again next year!