MUSIC NEWS

WINTER CONCERT

We have had another busy fortnight in the Music Department. All ensembles are rehearsing intensely to ensure that they are at an incredible standard for the upcoming Winter Concert on Wednesday 10 August. Students are reminded to keep an eye on the Newsfeed on Compass and on their schedule to ensure that they make all rehearsals to make the night an absolute success.

Parents are encouraged to join us for the evening to help celebrate the work that the students have undertaken. Tickets are on sale through Monash University booking office now (the link is on our website). Students who are performing do not require a ticket.

Prices: Adults $20, Concession $15, Family (2Adults/2 Children) $60, and Group of 6 $81

VOCAL NIGHT

An outstanding night’s entertainment was held on Thursday 21 July in the Lecture Theatre. The standard of performance continued to demonstrate the growing capabilities of students both in a solo, duo and small group capacity. Thank you to everyone who attended the evening. Thank you to Debbie James, Gayle Whittaker, Matthew James and King Chen for providing the refreshments at interval.

Thanks to the audio visual team who work hard behind the scenes to ensure that the performers look and sound amazing. Thanks to Tess Hodgson and Amy Thit for introducing all items for the night, and thank you to Ms Kirk for Stage Managing. Finally, thank you to Ms Blanka West for the amazing work that she does preparing the students for performance.

MUNCH THEN MUSIC

Congratulations to all the students who took part in the latest in the Munch then Music concert series on Friday 29 July. It was great to hear such an outstanding level of performance across all year levels.

Congratulations to Jason Pun, Mimi Bernstein, Jason Romagnesi, Chang Dae Yoo, Alice Pfeiffer and Nicholas Whittaker for their willingness to perform and make these concerts a success. Thanks again to the audio visual team for their consistent and hard work. Thanks also to Mr Baltazar Kurowski for his ongoing work in developing this program further.

McKINNON STATION OPENING

An amazing group of performers braved the cold early morning on Monday 1 August to help with the opening of the new look McKinnon Station. A vocal group began the celebrations at 7:00am, followed by the Saxophone Ensemble and finally the Clarinet Choir. A great heartfelt thanks to the students who made the effort to be at this event so early in the morning and to their amazing teachers, Ms Blanka West and Ms Su Rogerson for organising such an intrepid group.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES IN TERM 3

Please note these dates in your diary for the term for upcoming Performance Opportunities for Term 3:

Winter Concert – Wednesday 10 August
Symphonic Wind performing at VSMF – Tuesday 23 August
Senior Stage Band performing at VSMF – Thursday 25 August
Senior Stage Band performing with the Glen Eira Youth Orchestra – Sunday 28 August
Percussion Night – Monday 29 August
Strings Night – Thursday 1 September
Year 12 Music Performance Night – Monday 15 September

REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE

In preparation for the many performances that will be taking place over the semester, students are reminded that they need to keep their attendance up at the core ensemble rehearsals. All music students, instrumentalist and elective, are required to be in one of the main ensembles that are held at the school. Being a part of these ensembles helps develop group skills, aural work, sight-reading, widens their experience and musical style and often involves performing for community groups, other schools and functions within the school community. Rehearsals are held as follows:

Symphonic Wind – Monday afterschool 3:30 – 5pm
Keenan Strings – Thursday before school 7:45am
Orchestra – Thursday afterschool 3:30 – 5pm
McKinnon Choir – Thursday lunch time
Ovenden band – Friday before school 7:45am

We look forward to seeing all students at their respective ensemble rehearsal.

Megan Papworth

Head of Music - Classroom