Co-curricular Arts News

We are pleased to extend a warm welcome to all Marist College Ashgrove families and what promises to be another exciting and productive year for the Performing Arts at Marist. The 2023 School Year will involve many exciting events in a diverse range of genres and in a variety of concert formats. More details of these concerts and events will be included in a forthcoming edition of the College Newsletter. Please continue to stay up to date with Concert and Performing Arts via this fortnightly newsletter entry. All other communication relating to students directly involved with Instrumental Lessons, Co-curricular Ensembles and all Performing Arts events will be communicated via the College App and email where necessary. 

Music Camp

On Friday 20 January approximately 110 Music Students and Staff departed for Alexandra Headlands on the annual start-of-the-year Music Camp. Members of the College’s Chamber Choir, Performance Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber & Senior String Orchestras, Wind Orchestra, Guitar Orchestra 1 and Big Band 1 were all involved in the intensive ensemble rehearsals to hone their skills for the numerous upcoming performances this year. The camp was a great success with all ensembles producing some fantastic results so early in the year. Students also honed their skills at trivia night and ten-pin bowling and cooled off with a swim in the surf. 2023 looks to be a great year with students already making significant progress on Term 1 repertoire. Thank you to the boys and staff; Mrs Alison Braidwood, Ms Rhiannon Fenn, Ms Megan Harmston, Mrs Catherine Wasserman, Mr Enrico Le Mura, Ms Janelle Lee Long, Mr Joseph Rabjohns, Mr Owen Tilbury, Ms Melanie Stewart, Mr Tony Vandermeer, Mr Sean Flynn, Mr Alex Hides, Ms Evalyn Legried, Mr Samuel Vincent, Mr Andrew Ball, Mr Jamie Kennedy, Ms Emily Smith, Mr Bede Prince, Mr Malcolm Wood and Mr Sacha Gibbs-Mcphee. Thanks also to all families involved - for their communication towards the end of last year and through the holidays, and for their son’s attendance during the last weekend of the Christmas break. 

Co-curricular Music Ensembles and Rehearsal Information

We are pleased to confirm that alongside the recommencement of Instrumental Lessons in Week 2, Co-curricular Ensemble rehearsals for 2023 will also begin. Please refer to the attached Ensemble Rehearsal Schedule for rehearsal days and times. Ensemble allocations for all students will be sent out via email before the end of this week (Week 1).

Rehearsal Schedule Semester 1 2023

Term 1 Music Concerts

Please note the following Concerts are scheduled to take place during Term 1, 2023:

• Thursday 2 March, Premier Concert (Week 6)
• Thursday 16 March, Autumn Concert (Week 8)
• Thursday 23 March, Year 5 Musical (Week 9)

Instrumental Lessons

A reminder that all Instrumental and Voice Lessons will recommence on Monday 30 January, at the beginning of Week 2. Weekly timetables are emailed each Friday (for the following week) and are also posted on the College App. Further information (especially for new students) will be included in this Friday’s notices. A reminder that Instrumental Enrollments roll over at the end of each year (including from Years 6 to 7). Enrollments are accepted at any time throughout the year so it’s never too late to enrol. Enrolment forms can be found in the Music tile on the College App. 

Staff News

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Darian Johns, who has concluded his time at Marist College Ashgrove, after being part of the Marist classroom teaching cohort, voice teacher and Choir Director for the past ten years. We wish Mr Johns all the best in his future professional endeavours, and thank him for his contributions to Marist Music over the years.

We would also like to welcome back Mr Enrico Le Mura, who has re-joined the Marist College faculty as a classroom music teacher, Guitar, Bass and DJ Teacher. We wish him the best of luck as he commences the school year in his new role. 

Marist Vocal Ensembles

At Marist College Ashgrove, all students have the opportunity to participate in our diverse offerings of the Co-curricular Music Program. Beyond our Instrumental program, the College has two non-auditioned Vocal Ensembles where all students can further involve themselves in College culture through a fun and supportive choral environment. Participation in Co-curricular Ensembles involves the weekly commitment of a morning rehearsal, as well as providing multiple performance opportunities for students throughout the year. Please email music@marash.qld.edu.au if your son wishes to participate in one of these Vocal Ensembles (Please include Year Level and Full Name). 

• Marist Voices - Open to all students in Years 5 & 6 
• Performance Choir - Open to all students in Years 7-12 

Communication

If you have any concerns or questions about the music program, please feel free to contact us at any time:

Performing Arts Administration Team, email: music@marash.qld.edu.au and Phone: 07 3858 4668.