Music Matters
It’s been another choc-a-block term of music with students actively engaged in improving their music skills through a variety of fun music activities and events.
Both Wind Symphony and String Orchestra performed at the Victorian Schools Music Festival and both came away with gold awards.
Soundworks and Concert Band have been rehearsing solidly and are preparing for their performance at the VSMF in November and are all set for their performances at the Spring Concert next term.
All the string students featured in the recent String Soiree where they played in our large ensembles as well as solos and duets.
Our Junior Jazz group has got up and running and are sounding fabulous ahead of the Spring Concert and Senior Jazz is firing after their wonderful performance at Doncaster Primary School with Wind Symphony and String Quartet.
Our rock bands are sounding incredible. Both have performed at a lunchtime concert and the year 7 and year 9 assemblies at the end of term. They are really looking forward to combining with Templestowe College in week three next term for a workshop and showcase concert on the 20th October.
Save the Date
Thursday 6 October
Spring Concert, 7pm - 9pm
All Music students involved except Rock Program students
Thursday 20 October
Rock Showcase combined concert with Templestowe College, 7pm - 9pm
DSC Performance Centre
All Rock Program students involved
November 14 - 16
VSMF for Concert Band and Soundworks
Date to be confirmed.
Performance during the day parents and friends welcome to attend.
Entry is free.
Tuesday 29 November
Year 7 2023 Instrumental Music Information & Instrument Tryout Evening
Wind Symphony wins GOLD Award at the VSMF
Following on from String Orchestra’s amazing Victorian Schools Music Festival Gold Award winning performance, Wind Symphony also managed to gain a Gold Award for their performance at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on the 23rd August.
The students played beautifully and were particularly complimented on their musicality in the ballad piece, “Beside Still Waters”. The Festival includes schools from all around the state and it was so wonderful to be able to play in such a beautiful venue to an audience again.
Wind Symphony has students as young as year 8 in it and they all lifted for the occasion. I am so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to show them off at the Spring Concert on the 6th October.
String Soiree
On Thursday 8th September, we held our first String Soiree for three years in the school Performance Centre. Entry was free for this casual evening which over 60 parents, siblings and friends took advantage of. They were treated to a feast of outstanding performances by all our sting students.
The night was broken into three sections featuring members of our three larger ensembles Stringworks, String Orchestra and String Quartet. The ensembles all performed one piece each followed by members from that ensemble playing either a solo, duet or small group piece. This was a daunting task for even some of the more experienced students as performance opportunities have been very limited over the last three years but they all did brilliantly.
All the performing students can be very proud of their achievements so far this year. From the beginners in Soundworks, right through to the senior students in String Quartet, everyone has shown huge improvement throughout the year and we are very excited about what the future holds for our string program at Doncaster Secondary College.
Congratulations to Hannah Walters and Joshua Vercoe for inspiring the students and motivating them to keep improving. Attendance at all rehearsals and lessons this year has been outstanding and your dedication and professionalism has shone through, producing incredible results.
A big thank you to Wendy Howes for taking photos on the night and controlling the lighting. Thanks also to Belinda McGee for locking up afterwards.
Doncaster Primary School Performances
On Wednesday 14th September, Wind Symphony, String Quartet and Senior Jazz all walked up to Doncaster Primary School to play for their Foundation and year 4 and 5 students for their afternoon session. They demonstrated all the instruments we learn at Doncaster and gave the primary school students a live music experience that a lot of them had never had before.
The DPS students were excellent listeners and showed outstanding audience etiquette, intently listening to the ballad Wind Symphony played and the quieter string quartet. They answered questions about the instruments and one lucky Foundation student got to conduct Wind Symphony! They then clapped along with the Senior Jazz performing Smooth by Santana and Mercy by Duffy.
When asked if they’d like us to come and play for them again they screamed a huge YES!!!!!
We’re hoping to visit again with some of our other ensembles in term 4.
Lunchtime Concert
Last Friday 9th September, our rock bands performed at lunchtime on the Music Centre stage to a large supportive audience of students and teachers. The two bands (who are still nameless!) performed brilliantly and were very well received.
A highlight was the debut performance of Sienna Margarejo’s original song “Reputation” which she wrote and presented to the band a couple of weeks ago. The band listened to it, went away and put their own parts to it to make it a rockin’ song showing off all the members of the band.
Congratulations to both bands on a productive term. I can’t wait for the workshop and showcase with Templestowe College next term.
Nick Dean
Music Coordinator