1973 School Magazine

COMtsM{ED OR.CHESTRA _ Ngrc. After the abatement of the initial fuss and excite- ment caused by the formation of the Combined Orchestra early this year, the genuine music makers settled down to regular practices conducted by Mr. Brazier and Mr. Broughton. Together with members of the Grammar Singers, some of us attended the Music Camp at Kamp Stacey in June, when concen- trated practices were held in preparation for our per- formance at the Boys' Grammar Inter-house Music Competition - 31st July. Our first public appearance at our own school was made on School Day, when we braved the elements (lively gusts of wind) to provide an open air concert at the ceremony marking the commencement of our Centenary Project. At the beginning of this term, Mr. May took Mr. Braziefs place as our conductor. We have been pleased by the increase in our numbers. Mr. May is well qualified to handle a school orchestra and we are all confident of a lively and well orgarized future. COMBINED CHOIR-ORCIIESTRA CAMP-22nd- 24th June Ttris year for the first time, a permanent combined orchestra, which meets weekly, was formed, (formerly the orchestra had met only three times a year) and went with the Grammar Singers to Kamp Stacey for a weekend of fun, footy, and music. At approximately two o'clock on Firday afternoon, two busloads of noisy schoolkids hit the road for Cunningham's Gap. There was some supervision by Mr. Montague (the choir master) and his wife, how- ever, and to ease matters we had two very friendly busdrivers - Ralph and Ian - who soon became'two of the kids.' By four o'clock we had arrived at Kamp Stacey, and a mass search for a suitable hut for each goup began. Dinner was to be at 6.30, and therefore every- one was soon busying tlemselves with unpacking and preparing for dinner. After dinner, there was a short orchestra practice which consisted mainly of arranging the seats, and than a choir practice. Those poor unfortunates who were needed in both orchestra and choir practibes, found themselves rather exhausted by the end of the weekend. Saturday began with a short orchestra practice under the banner of Mr. Brouglrten inside the hall, and then a long one outside while the choir descended upon the eating hall and piano. There was a short break at the end of this practice and then everyone practised hard again until lunch time. By this time some people were very hungy as there had been a football match that moming which had started at five o'clock and continued until breakfast. After lunch, the same again (but this time Mr. Braziq conducted the orchestra and when he had finished, Mr. Calighan conducted the boys' practice band)-another practice for about an hour and a half.

As one of the boys had had the forethought to bring both a soccer ball and a football to the camp, and as the morning's activity had consisted of football, the afternoon's activityconsisted of walks up the mountain path and soccer (not on the path). The soccer game that afternoon started off as boys versus boys, but shortly became boys and girls versus boys and girls, and finally finished up as boys, girls and busdriver versus boys, girls and busdriver, not to mention the two dogs who made up a third team. At fust we didn't have a goal post, but Ralph and Ian put their heads together and came up with a brilliant idea - use the buses as goal posts, and from then on the buses got a few dints here and there, but mainly by the busdrivers. Saturday ended as a free night for everyone after the usual task of washing up and cleaning up after dinner, The sixth formers tried to get a dance going, but this was unsuccessful until Barbara.White volun- teered to be in the fust pair. After this, a few people still had to be coaxed but not as much as before. Every dance you can imagine was performed that night - from modern go-go to th" rypry tap as'well as the mexican hat dance and rock 'n' roll. Saturday night ended with some very vocal choir- isters, led by their Uncle Barry, doing their thing until the wee small hours of the morning. Even after they were locked out of the eating hall, they didn't shut up - so much for sleeping on Saturday night. Sunday began the same way as Saturday - after breakfast, practice began. The choir and orchestra both practised for about one and a half hours and then had abreak after which the choir had another practice while the orchestra started packing up. After lunch, a major clean-up began and continued until the buses were packed and ready to roll. Then there was the usual display of lost property of which a hair net was still unclaimed when we left, followed by the noisy trip back to Brisbane where seventy sleepy kids were collected by parents who had enjoyed their quiet weekend. An orchestra member. +f