MUSIC NEWS

As we head towards the final weeks of the semester things are heating up in the Music Centre.

THE FORTNIGHT IN REVIEW

The Munch then Music lunchtime concert series continued on Thursday 29 May under the direction of Mr Baltazar Kurowski. Congratulations to the following students: William Hardy, James Hardy, Neg Hamedani Zadeh, Luka Duggan, Orr Zaacks, Pedro Aguilera, Vitor Fanstone, Soyeon Kim, Minh Nguyet Tran and Connor O’Reilly. The standard of performance was extraordinarily high and demonstrated a growing commitment to music making. Thank you also to Ruby Willis who was the MC for the concert.

Also on Thursday, was the Year 11 Music Night held in the Lecture Theatre. It was a brilliant night with great performances by the students.

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On Thursday 5 June, nineteen McKinnon Secondary College string students joined with forty students from other SEVR schools from the region at the Stringfest day held at Nossal High School in Berwick. This was a great opportunity for students to develop their ensemble skills further under the direction of the exciting and inspiring Alex Cole. The large ensemble rehearsed a selection of contemporary, folk and classical pieces in the morning and then recorded all works in the afternoon. Thanks to Mr Stuart Cook and Mr Andrew Albanis who attended as tutors for the day. Thanks also to Mr Martin West who chauffeured the group to and from Berwick.

ENSEMBLE REMINDERS

The main ensembles that run at McKinnon are Ovenden Band, Symphonic Strings, Symphonic Wind, Orchestra and Choir. 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. Rolls for these ensembles are marked on Compass and students are required to see the director of each ensemble if they miss a rehearsal or performance.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS

AMEB Brass performance examinations will be held at McKinnon Secondary College. We wish all students taking part in these exams well.

Any other student, who wishes to take part in an AMEB performance examination later in the year, should speak to their instrumental teacher. Entry forms are available outside the Music Office and need to be completed and returned by the end of term (27 June).

Heavy Metal, the low brass ensemble, Eliana Adler, King Chen and Emily Holding are all performing at the Kingston Heath Ladies Probus Club on 19 June. We wish them well in this performance.

B’nai B’rith Victoria are holding the Jewish Youth Music Eisteddfod for students who have completed AMEB Grade 3 or higher. This will be held over August and applications close Thursday 24 July. Any interested students should contact Mr West for further details.

DATES TO REMEMBER

The Year 12 Music Night is on at 7:00pm, Thursday 12 June in the Auditorium. We look forward to hearing the high levels of musicianship from these dedicated musicians.
The Junior Music Night is on at 7:00pm Wednesday 25 June in the School Hall. This is the first public performance of the Year 7 band and string groups. All details have now been posted on Compass.

Megan Papworth

Head of Classroom - Music

MUSIC CAMP

Tuesday 20 - Thursday 22 May

This year some students from the Ovenden Band, Choir and Senior Singers took part in a music camp along with Cheltenham Secondary College and Mordialloc Secondary College at Rutherford Park (just past Daylesford). There was much music-making and heaps of fun had by all. Many new friendships were formed between students of different schools and amongst various year levels.

The first morning saw the distant hills in mist as we set straight off into five hours of rehearsal. The evenings saw a trivia night, organised by Ms Theresa Kirk, and a Talent Night, which included our brass teacher Mr Dmitry Serebrianik as judge.

At the completion of the camp, we set off to Cheltenham Secondary College for an amazing catered afternoon tea and a concert of everything we'd done. The Senior Band was directed by guest conductor, Ms Jo Heaton while Ms Tracy Videon conducted the Junior Band. Ms Blanka West conducted the choir with an incredible version of 'Let It Go'.

A guitar ensemble, combined with a few senior female vocalists, performed a lovely arrangement of 'Bubbly'. The whole concert concluded with massed singing of a two-part arrangement of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' included some fun movements.

King Chen (Year 11)

and Ms Blanka West