MUSIC 

New Ensembles in 2022

We are looking forward to new structures for our ensembles program in 2022 which will accommodate our burgeoning Junior School Music Program, and the growing diversity in musical experience and style in our Senior School Music Program.

New Middle School Band

One of the flagship successes of our Senior School Program has been the College Band. When I started at the College it had 12 very keen musicians. Over the years, through our Year 7 Beginners and Encore programs, our Band has grown to over 50 musicians, won numerous prizes, and become a cultural home for so many of our students, fostering their academic wellbeing as well as their social skills and executive functions, in a nurturing and fun environment. But, like many of our projects in Music, we have hit a happy problem in the Band - it’s now too big, and the standard of our players has become so wide-ranging, that our College Band no longer caters to the needs of our younger and less experienced players. And with our Year 5 Band program fostering a whole new group of future maestros, we want an ensemble to meet the needs of these students too. 

So in 2022, we will add the Middle School Band to our swag of ensembles. Our Middle School Band will cater for students in Years 4 - 8 who have been playing for 2 years or less, or are of a beginner to intermediate level. Our College Band will be renamed as our Senior School Band. This Band will be for students in Years 7 - 12 who have been playing for 2 years or more and are of an intermediate to advanced level. Students in Years 7 and 8 will be able to choose which Band they participate in, based on where they feel comfortable, yet also challenged and engaged. Our peripatetic music staff and I will guide students in their choice of Band, and students will be invited to audition for the band of their choosing in weeks 8 and 9 of this term.

As a guide to the level and parameters of each band, I offer the following guidelines:

From the radio

Recently Year 12 student, Miles Martin, was interviewed on ABC Riverina along with Mr Humble and myself. Enjoy the international radio debut of Miles’ compositions and some insights into the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program here: Miles on ABC Riverina

Clare Brassil | Director of Music Performance