2011 School Magazine

Other concerts such as the May Concert, Spring Concert and Autumn Concert provided the opportunity for all twenty-three ensembles to present the results of their work to appreciative audiences and to gain valuable performance experience A memorable project for choristers and music students was the wonderful opportunity of working with Australian composer Mr Paul Jarman in a composition workshop, preparing for a piece commissioned exclusively for the singers of Girls Grammar. After much collaboration with the girls, Jarman produced Knowing - a piece that explores the life of the extraordinary He Ien Keller and was premiered at the annual Gala Concert Other visitors to the School this year included Professor Mark Fonder, who came as a guest conductor as part of his Australian tour. The experience helped us through some challenging repertoire while teaching us new skills that could be widely used A local conductor and Internationally recognised composer, Mr Ralph Huitgren, also came to the School to workshop one of his own pieces. Girls Grammar hosted a group from St Kevin's in Melbourne who joined us for this workshop. it was brilliant to get the composer's insight as he was able to explain clearly his aim for the piece and its meaning. This opportunity to meet and play with like-minded, music-orientated students was valued by the members of Symphonic Winds. The 17th Australian Combined Schools Music Festival gave us a similar opportunity and extended our musical abilities St Stephen's Cathedral provided an Inspiring environment for strings and voices to perform some magnificent works Including Mozart's Horn Concerto in E flat featuring Mhairianne Macleod and Vivaldi's Summer with Debbie Lee as soloist. Chamber Singers added an African flavour with the Shona Mass Open Day provided an opportunity to perform for a new audience of prospective parents to the School. This was then quickly followed by the annual music competitions, in which all students gained valuable performance experience and feedback from professional adjudicators. Congratulations to winners of each competition (see DVD for competition winners)

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Another highlight for 2011 was the annual Choral Concert, where all choirs - Chorale, Grammar Voices, Grammar Chorus, Grammar Singers and Chamber Singers - performed at their best. The girls were treated to an awe-inspiring performance from Bella Diva, a Brisbane-based professional vocal ensemble consisting of four female vocalists, one of which is our private voice teacher Ms Cush Finally, at the Christmas Carols concert our musicians celebrated the festive season by entertaining a younger audience All of these events were stand out moments, but what most girls will take from the year in Music is strengthening or making new friendships while contributing to the School community

; I Anna Pan (12B), Georgia Hahn (120), MhaiTianne Madeod (12H) I