2015 School Magazine

TANZI YOUTHWIND ENSEMBLEWORKSHOP NATALIE DIMICHELE (9E) On 22 June, the Tanzi Youth Wind Ensemble from the Taichung Municipal Tantsu Junior High School, Taiwan came to Brisbane Girls Grammar School to perform with Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds. Personally I found it very rewarding as I play the tuba, and usually I am alone, but in this band there were three other tuba players, so I could tell I was actually playing the right parts. The band learnt some new techniques from the guest conductor Ralph Hultgren. It was also very interesting to see how the Taiwanese conductor taught his band. Throughout the afternoon we watched one of their rehearsals, ate afternoon tea, had a combined rehearsal, ate dinner and performed our concert.

The Taiwanese students were all very nice and we exchanged gifts. This experience was very valuable and I would definitely do it again.

AUSTRALIAN COMBINED SCHOOLS MUSIC FESTIVAL FIONA QIU (10R)

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From 17-21 of June 2015, forty BGGS girls, accompanied by Mr Sullivan, Mr Kucharski, Mrs Davidson and Ms Porter participated in the biennial Australian Combined Schools Music Festival, hosted by Wesley College in Melbourne. The festival brought together musicians from various schools nationwide, including Brisbane Grammar School, Somerville House, Westminster School Adelaide, Sydney Grammar School, Ascham School Sydney, Canberra Grammar

and Canberra Girls Grammar School. These student musicians formed three high standard ensembles — the Festival Concert Band, the Festival Choir and the Festival Orchestra — which rehearsed and refined repertoire under the generous guidance of Australia’s leading conductors, Stephen Mould, Mark Ford and Stephen Leek. Upon arrival in Melbourne, girls were warmly welcomed by their homestay families, whom we sincerely thank for their care and support. The following day, all three festival ensembles dined together, enjoying a delicious meal prepared by the Glen Waverley campus parents from Wesley College. This was followed by a chilly but spectacular walk along the Yarra River and an AFL match at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. Students were able to forge new friendships during this time and experience Melbourne’s lifestyle. The festival culminated in a gala performance at one of Australia’s most prestigious concert venues, the Melbourne’s Arts Centre, Hamer Hall. This concert featured impressive instrumental, choral and combined repertoires such as Polovtsian Dances by Alexander Borodin. Playing with high-calibre, like-minded musicians and embracing the challenge posed by the difficult repertoire, the girls found the festival a thoroughly rewarding experience and a fantastic way to conclude Term II.