Music Notes
James Liang (Year 10) at Arts in the Round
Introducing our new Head of Music
We are excited to welcome Mr Jan Blazejczak to Huntingtower as the new Director of Music and the Performing Arts. Mr Blazejczak started at HT last week and has not wasted any time getting to know students and parents. We thought we would ask some questions to learn a little more about him!
1. How do you pronounce your name?!
This is always a little tricky but best to pronounce it as – Bla – ze -jack.
2. What is your musical background?
I was born in Belgium and have been very fortunate to be educated by great professors in music and music education. I studied in Belgium at the Conservatorium of Music in Leuven (Louvain for the French-speaking Belgians!). I completed a Masters Degree in Music Pedagogy and furthered my studies in both orchestral and choral conducting and composition. My main instrument is piano.
3. Where else have you taught music?
I taught in Belgium (Bruges) before moving to Australia. In Australia I was Director of Music at Geelong Grammar (Glamorgan Campus, Toorak), Aitken College (Greenvale) and Genazzano FCJ College (Kew). This year I taught classroom music at Caulfield Grammar.
4. What is your favourite piece of music that you have conducted?
There are many pieces and each piece has a special memory. From a choral aspect, I have very fond memories of conducting Gabriel Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine and also a wonderful work by the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams called 5 Mystical Songs (for orchestra, baritone solo and choir). But every composition is special and the greatest pleasure is to see students really getting involved in and performing good music.
5. What excites you most about coming to work at Huntingtower?
From the first day, I enjoyed driving in and being greeted by students and staff. I am really enjoying listening to rehearsals and the music that sounds through the walls of the music studios and the rehearsal studios. The music department is very special and staff are extremely passionate. I am enjoying chatting to the students and getting to know them better individually, although I still have a long way to go. I enjoy musical challenges and am looking forward to the exciting opportunity to build upon the wonderful music program already established at Huntingtower.
6. What is your vision for the Music Program at Huntingtower?
Since this has been my first week, I am trying to look for opportunities that are in the best interests of the students and which will make them grow as musicians and individual learners. There are a few aspects that I will focus on over the next 12 months and these include
* Increasing the student number intake in the instrumental area (I would like to continue our excellent instrumental program but also attract more students to enroll in instrumental lessons across all instrument families)
* Maintaining excellence in our ensembles and performances
* Continuing the rich musical culture of overseas music tours
* Developing the curriculum with a focus on the importance of music in Elective Year Levels and at VCE, as well as a few exciting projects that will enhance student intake in all areas of the music department.
I am obviously excited by the opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to working with parents, students and staff in achieving great outcomes.
7. What are your interests and hobbies outside of Music?
I enjoy sports (soccer and running), gardening and cooking. I am known for making great Belgian waffles!
8. Which AFL team do you support?
You can’t go wrong with Collingwood! (Edit. We won’t hold this against him ….)
9. How can parents and students contact you?
My School Email address: jblazejczak@huntingtower.vic.edu.au or by phoning the school on 9807 8888.
Arts in the Round
Once again our musicians played a key role in this year’s Arts in the Round festivities, held last Sunday afternoon. Thank you very much to the more than 400 musicians from Prep to Yr 12 and their families who performed in and supported two separate concerts that showcased our Orchestral and Instrumental Ensembles, as well as our Choirs. Both concerts in two different venues attracted large audiences, with the Orchestral Room being 'standing room only' half-way up the grass!
Well done to all the students who had a very busy day moving from one activity to another but who were still able to enjoy every opportunity to perform!
Special thanks to our brilliant conductors on the day for their hard work in preparing the ensembles for these performances – Carly Major-Gough for her amazing work with the Junior Choirs and Percussion Ensemble, Sharon Hunter and Jo Blankfield for the beautiful singing of our Middle School Choirs, our superb piano accompanists Jo Abbot and George Tyurin and our dedicated and passionate Orchestra and Band Conductors Willem Van der Vis, Clare Zabrowarny and Per Forsberg.
The newly-formed Senior Percussion Ensemble (directed by Steve Falk who was absent on the day) gave their premiere performance of a challenging and effective Body Percussion piece. The Godspell Cast reunited for a selection of songs from their production last term. As always, they demonstrated high levels of professionalism, enthusiasm, class and energy, even in the face of technical issues with the backing tracks!
Huge thanks also to Evan Pugh and Vivienne Perry for their incredible work behind the scenes setting up and dismantling the orchestras and choir risers, allowing each concert to run smoothly. We were also extremely grateful for Phil Amos and his wonderful photography and for the Junior and Senior School staff members who volunteered their time to help supervise students on the day. I would also like to personally thank Jan Tyquin for her huge role in coordinating the entire day – a most unenviable task!
This was the last official concert for our students from the Year 12 Class of 2019 to perform before their exams. We wish these students all the very best for the coming month or so. They are an extremely talented, musical and hard-working cohort and we will miss them so much next year!
Importance of attending rehearsals on time
In order to maximise our rehearsal time every week, it is important that all students arrive on time. We have noticed that a number of students arrive late to rehearsal and this impacts the quality of rehearsal time and, as a consequence, the quality of our performances. An ensemble can only gain experience and improve their playing if all members are present from the start of the rehearsal.
It is very important that everyone is doing the right thing by being seated and ready to go at the starting time.
Please be aware that the music department keeps accurate records of timely attendance and this is important if you would like to be considered for any leadership positions or colours in future years.
So, let’s work on being on time and make great music!!
Congratulations to the many students who already arrive well before rehearsal time and are ready and set up to play. We appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment and thank you for setting an excellent example.
REHEARSAL TIMES
TUESDAY
Senior Choir 3.15 pm – 4.10 pm
Senior Strings Orchestra 4.15 pm – 5.30 pm
WEDNESDAY
Middle School Orchestra 7.35 am – 8.20 am
THURSDAY
Concert Band 7.35 am – 8.20 am
Middle School Chamber Choir 3.15 pm – 4.15 pm
Senior Chamber Choir 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm
FRIDAY
Senior School Orchestra 7.35 am – 8.35 am
Music Dates Term 4 2019
1. YEAR 7 ORIENTATION DAY CONCERT – Yr 7/8 Choir, Middle School Chamber Choir and Middle School Orchestra: Friday 25 October, Performing Arts Centre, 8:25 to 9:40 am
2. MR BOWEN’S FAREWELL CONCERT - Senior String Orchestra and Senior Chamber Choir: Sunday November 24, Performing Arts Centre, afternoon: times TBA.
3. SENIOR ORCHESTRA SPEECH NIGHT REHEARSAL AND DINNER – Sunday November 24, 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm, Orchestral Room.
4. JUNIOR SCHOOL CELEBRATION NIGHT – All Junior Instrumental and Choral Groups:
Wednesday 27 November, Performing Arts Centre
5. SENIOR SPEECH NIGHT - All Senior Instrumental and Choral Groups:
Friday 29 November 7 pm, Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University
6. CHRISTMAS IS GIVING ASSEMBLY - Yr 7/8 Choir, Middle School Chamber Choir:
Thursday 5 December 1 pm.
N.B. Other Speech Night rehearsals for instrumental and choral groups will be scheduled during the week of Monday Nov 25th. Details TBA.