2007 School Magazine

It’s Showtime

It’s Showtime

Australian Combined Schools Music Festival

String Magic

During the last week of Term III, 19 Grammar girls travelled to Canberra for the Combined Schools Music Festival. Eight schools from around Australia participated this year, including Sydney Grammar School, Westminster School (Adelaide), Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Brisbane Grammar School, Great Southern Grammar (Albany), Radford College, Canberra Grammar School and Canberra Girls’ Grammar, who hosted the festival. Over the four days of the festival, we rehearsed for about 15 hours in four different ensembles; Festival Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra, Festival Choir and Chamber Choir. Leading conductors from all around Australia took the rehearsals, including Mr Ron Prussing, Mr John Benson, Mr Stephen Leek and Mr

Paul Holley (Brisbane Girls Grammar School). We played and sang a wide variety of challenging music at a very high standard, and the concert on Saturday night was a fantastic culmination of the hard work of the students and staff. The Concert was attended by the Governor-General His Excellency Major General, Michael Jeffrey and Mrs Jeffery, who commented that the Concert was a “staggering display of musical performance” as well as the headmaster of Canberra Grammar School, the Principal of Canberra Girls Grammar School and the headmaster of Sydney Grammar School who will host the next Festival In 2009. The quality of the performance was extremely high and the students found it a very rewarding experience.

A special highlight for the string players was the Chamber Music Concerts and a workshop conducted by the Grainger Quartet. A number of string players also took their musical journey to Canberra where they were involved in the 15th Combined Schools Music Festival that provided many challenges and great motivation. The concert finale for the year was the Gala Concert held at City Hall, where the senior ensembles were able to demonstrate their musical talents to a large and responsive audience who were overwhelmed by the result. The Gala not only showcased the inspirational musicianship of the Grammar girls but also the unique Grammar School spirit on a grand scale. Without the ever enthusiastic and tireless efforts of the Music Directors, the Staff and the ever obliging efforts of the Music Support Group, the students would not have been able to deliver such an impressive, confident performance.

“Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here.” (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone)

After the Concert, all students went to a social event organised by the festival, at the Yarralumla Woolshed. This was a great way to end the week, and all the students had a great time, particularly those following the lead of Mr Sullivan on the dance floor! Many connections were formed, with participants keeping in touch with other musicians from all around Australia. Overall the festival was a great success, and we would definitely recommend students to consider attending the Sydney Festival 2009. Felicity Martin (11O) composing class with the Year 11s to help with their film composing task in Term III. The week ended with a packed out choir concert performing a selection of his pieces alongside other Australian works. This experience was enjoyable and beneficial for all including the Cancer Foundation who we raised more than $900 for by selling merchandise on Daffodil Day. As always the Gala was a great success. Titled “On with the Show” the event showcased songs from the stage like Les Miserables, Sound of Music and Wicked. As usual it went off with a bang and raised the bar for next year’s concert. Susannah Plant (12E) Choral Captain

With the opening of the long awaited opening of The

Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre the Music Department has had a very exciting and busy year. Members of Vivaldi Players, Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Winds commenced their music activities with the annual music camp which was a great success. In addition, Chamber Orchestra participated in a special workshop with Dr William LaRue Jones, a versatile and active symphonic conductor from the United States of America. Throughout the year, every string player had the opportunity to exhibit their performance prowess and wonderful

Grammar Sings

and motivating conductor, Mr Holley, needed to call on the assistance of new conductor Ms Lee. Ms Lee successfully merged into the

Charmaine Lee (12H) Strings Captain

musicianship to appreciative audiences through a variety of concerts, competitions and

programme and now conducts one of the morning choirs.

community activities. To highlight, the Cathedral Concert at St Stephen’s and the Intermediate String Fest and Senior String Fest concerts that were held at Brisbane Grammar School were a resounding and inspirational success.

This year was exciting not only because the Creative Learning Centre with the impressive choir room was opened, but for the first time, a composer came to impart wisdom to the girls through a Composer-in-Residence Programme. We were lucky enough to host world renowned Australian composer and performer, Mr Paul Jarman who for three days led choir workshops and classes and shared his inspiring passion for music. He also took a

The choral programme at Girls Grammar is always outstanding and this year was no exception. With approximately 250 girls spread across five choirs, it was no surprise that our always capable, enthusiastic

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