1989 School Magazine

Muslc

MUSIC DEPARTMENT The combination of hundreds of talented and enthusiastic musicians and a body of very dedicated and hard-working staff has resulted in another enjoyable and successful year for the Music Department. The diverse range of music groups within the school has participated in many exciting activities throughout the year. Consequently, music has continued to play a significant role in the school calendar. The first items on the musical agenda were the ,,Welcome to New Parents" evening and the first Music Committee meeting at which the String Ensemble and the Camerata Singers provided some light entertainment. During March, several B.C.C.S. students, both past and present, performed in the Brisbane Crammar School "Artists in Concert,, recital. Term One finished on a "high note" with a concert at which many groups performed, several for the first time. The success of this concert, and of a similar one held at the end of Term Two, is a reflection of the abundance of talent and enthusiasm which is displayed by everyone associated with music in the school. The second term of 1989 began in a fever of activity as rehearsals commenced for the numerous up-coming events. Several groups combined with their counterparts from B.C.S. in preparation for School Day. The musical program on the day was very popular and was enjoyed a great deal by both its audiences and its participants. The combined B.C.C.S. - B.C.S. Senior Orchestra conducted from a catwalk, was but one of the many highlightsl Coinciding with School Day was the launch of the Restoration and Building Fund and the School Video. Music featured heavily in each of these. "Crunch Time,, audiences appreciated the enteftainment provided by the String Octet, the Senior Choir and solo vocalist, Marla Edwards. Several ensembles and individual musicians were involved in the production of the video. This emphasises the impoftant position music holds within the school. Music Camp'l 989 was held towards the end of term two. The week-end of "music and madness" culminated with the Music Camp Concert. At the end of semester one we said farewell to Miss Cook for a term and welcomed Mrs Hughes in her place. The musical diary for the latter part of the year was as busy as that of the first. Early in term three the musical talents of several groups and individuals were publicly recognised. Sally Coughlan was selected to be a member of the Pan Pacific Choir. Elizabeth Varley did very well indeed to win first place in the Open Woodwind section of the Brisbane Eisteddfod. The Camerata Singers also did very well in this contest. Several choirs and orchestras from B.C.C.S. per- formed successfully in the Festival of Music competitions which were held in September. The Vocal and lnstrumental Competitions have always been a main feature of the musical year and j9B9 was no

different. The high standard of all the entries is evidence of the commitment and skill which the musicians in the school possess. Congratulations must go to the winners who performed in the "Artists in Concert" recital in Octo- ber. Speech Day and the Christmas Concert were a fitting end to a what has been, musically, a very exciting and rewarding year. Many thanks must be extended to all the staff of the Music Department, especially Miss Myers, Miss Cook and Mrs Smith, for their support, patience and dedication. Best wishes to everyone for their future music-making.

CHO RAL ACTIVITI ES There has been continued enthusiasm and support for all choirs this year with a very large number of girls being involved in choral activities. ln third term we said ,goodbye-, to Miss Cook and welcomed Mrs Hughes into the Music Department. lt was under her expert guidance that all choirs continued to perform at the usual high standard attained under Miss Cook. Many thanks must go to Mrs Hughes, as everyone realized the many difficulties of coming into a school for such a short period of time. With Miss Cook,s return, all choirs benefited greatly from her new expertise gained during a Choral conducting course at princeton Uni- versity in America.

SEN IOR CHOIR Senior Choir has continued to grow both in size and standard. This year has been one of our best, with many successful performances. Over and above this year,s two Music Concerts and the B.C.C.S. Annual Christmas Concert, we sang for the official launch of the Restoration and Building Appeal in the Cehrmann Theatre. Later in the year we were invited as guest performers to the Brisbane Boys, College Annual Crand Conceft, in which we performed some of our own material as well as combining with the B.B.C. choir to provide the female voices. Thanks must go to both Miss Cook and Mrs Hughes for enabling us to enjoy such a successful year.

Susan Cillingham

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