Faculty News
Music Faculty
The Mazenod Music Department would like to welcome all students and families to the 2020 school year!
As always, we have a full and engaging calendar of performances and experiences booked for our musicians, including our annual trip to Mt Gambier for the Generations in Jazz contest, performances for the Melbourne School Band’s Festival and the Boroondara Eisteddfod, excursions to see the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in concert, and workshops with professional vocalists and instrumentalists.
A particularly exciting event will take place in late term two. We will be offering our String and Flute musicians the chance to be a part of a tour to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland! This is sure to be an unforgettable musical and social event, with performances at Noosa and Brisbane, as well as visits to national parks and markets, outdoor adventure activities and a full day at Dreamworld!
The Musical Production this year is the hugely popular “Wicked”. Being involved with the musical is always memorable for both parents and students! Auditions will take place in February. We encourage students of from all year levels to take the leap into the vibrant world of musical theatre!
Finally, we wish our incoming Year 7 students all the best as they take their place in the college.
Year 7 is the time to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible - to begin to learn who you are and where your talents lie.
Music is important. It’s another language. It develops self-discipline and resilience (there are no short cuts!) Learning to appreciate, understand and perform is incredibly enriching and rewarding for young men.
Playing an instrument is also a wonderful way for new students to socialize, not just with each other, but with peers across all year levels. There is a positive culture of hard work and community that exists amongst our musicians. They are very supportive of one another, and share a real sense of kinship.
The comradery in music is not limited to just students! Many of our non-music staff members are also keen musicians. Mr. Michael McNeil (Head of Mathematics) and Mrs. Clare Caldwell (Head of Senior English) are both fantastic woodwind players who regularly perform in the college musicals. Mr. Adrian De Fanti (Dean of Staff Learning) leads a renowned Jazz Band that performs all over Australia (and interestingly, over Antarctica every New Year’s Eve!) Even our Principal, Mr. Tony Coghlan, is an accomplished pianist who can still occasionally be heard practising in the Founders’ Complex (and there are many more - too many to name in fact!) Though their careers have taken them in other directions, music still plays an important and fulfilling role in their lives.
Music at Mazenod is well supported, and the costs associated with learning an instrument are very cheap when compared to most schools.
If you have any questions regarding instrumental music lessons at Mazenod, you are most welcome to contact our music reception via: musicreception@mazenod.vic.edu.au
We strongly encourage all Year 7 students to take the opportunity to learn a musical instrument – now is the time!
Mr Douglas Leutchford
Head of Instrumental Music
Mr George Melitsis
Director of Music Operations