Music Notes

Spotlight on music staff - Ken McClimont (Concert Band Conductor and Trombone Teacher)

Nicole Bull, Academic Dean of Performing Arts 

We would like to introduce to you Mr Ken McClimont (Concert Band Conductor and Trombone Teacher) from our Music Department. Ken teaches students from primary to secondary years and conducts the Concert Band which rehearses every Tuesday morning from 7.30am in Room PVC7.  

If you are interested in trombone lessons for your child, please contact the Music Department at music.admin@kilvington.vic.edu.au.

KEN McCLIMONT, CONCERT BAND CONDUCTOR/TROMBONE TEACHER

It has been one of the highlights of my career to teach trombone to my students at Kilvington Grammar, and also to have the opportunity to establish and conduct the School Concert Band and be involved with other ensembles at the School.  

The teaching of music compares to no other subject, as it involves the whole of the body, the mind and the spirit. It is impossible to teach music without passion and without a desire for perfection in performance. To see music students playing and developing their craft is exciting and thrilling for the teacher and something I have revelled in at Kilvington.

My teaching career began in the field of economics, accountancy and geography, but I had the great good fortune of winning an audition for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in my third year of teaching, and held a position as a principal player with that orchestra for a considerable time.  

This gave me the opportunity of travelling to many parts of the world where the Orchestra performed in some of the world’s top concert halls. It also meant performing with some of the great classical performers such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Jessye Norman, Paul Tortellier etc, and many of the popular entertainers such as Elton John, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. 

A professional musician is expected to play all styles of music, and so there were many opportunities to perform with a variety of ensembles and even play backings for films such as Mad Max and many Australian movies including Man from Snowy River, Phar Lap etc.

Throughout my performing career, I have taught many students from primary to tertiary and maintain that teaching actually improves performance, for to teach well you must listen, analyse and empathise with the student, and this positively impacts your own performance.  

However, there is nothing better than seeing the joy written over a student’s face when their hard work results in performing successfully on stage. 

VCE Unit 2 and Year 10 music performance

A tremendous congratulations to our Unit 2 and Year 10 Music students, who last Thursday evening presented their performance recital online. The students worked incredibly hard during a very difficult semester and were able to perform at an incredibly high standard.

A big thank you goes out to our accompanists for providing instrumental tracks, the unfailing support and work of the instrumental teachers and the students themselves who performed a beautiful program. Well done everyone! 

Celebration Night - 29 November

Due to ongoing COVID restrictions, our Celebration Night will be a virtual night. During lockdown, the music students have been  preparing virtually with remote rehearsals. 

It has been very pleasing to witness the dedication and commitment of our Music students to continue to attend our remote co-curricular rehearsals. This year, all the music performances at Celebration Night have had to be recorded by our students. 

The night will feature our senior vocal ensemble Kantabile; our senior instrumentalists; Year 12 student, Cindy Yi, who placed second at the Online 2021 Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival Competition in August; our traditional farewell song to the Year 12s - When Will I See You - which combines students from Years 3 to 11, and our finale song The Australian Medley. 

This medley was to be performed as the massed singing item at the Annual Music Concert which could not go ahead as per usual as we were all in lockdown at the time. 

Students from Years 3 to 12 have participated in the medley which showcases many familiar and well-loved Australian songs such as I Still Call Australia Home, I am Australian, True Blue, Land Down Under, Solid Rock and Under the Milky Way.

Thank you to all students who have recorded items for this night. It takes a lot of effort to make this sort of occasion come together remotely, and I appreciate all the hard work.

I hope you enjoy the performances when Celebration Night is streamed live on November 29.

Music tuition enrolment forms for 2022

Music enrolment forms are now due in for 2022. If your child is interested in learning an instrument next year, can you please ensure you return an enrolment form to the Music Department. 

The Music Department has many instrumental classes available, ranging from string instruments, brass and woodwind instruments, voice, keyboard and speech and drama.  

There is also a large choice of ensembles for your child to participate in. If you have any queries regarding music classes, please contact the Music Department on 8574 7637 or email: music.admin@kilvington.vic.edu.au

All continuing students must return an enrolment form for 2022.

Year 2 String Program 

The Year 2 String students will be given the opportunity to perform in front of their parents and staff on Tuesday, 23 November. Their performance time and venue will be confirmed.  Please note all parents must provide proof of vaccination to attend. 

Further information will be sent out to all Year 2 parents prior to the performance. If you have any further queries, please contact Mr Darko Kolosov (Head of Strings) at kolosovd@kilvington.vic.edu.au.

Diary dates – Term 4 (dependent on COVID restrictions)