2023 School Magazine

MUSIC COMPETITIONS The BGGS Music competitions are a testament to the hard work and talent of both our musicians and Music staff. Throughout Semester 1, BGGS instrumental musicians and vocalists prepared for and competed in Music competitions. To deliver the best possible performances, musicians not only worked closely with teachers, but completed extensive practice at home and with accompanists. After performing for wonderful and distinguished adjudicators, the winners of the Wight Memorial Medal for Music, The Gillies Memorial Prize for Violin, and the Brass, Vocal, Percussion, Woodwind, Strings, and Harp and Non-Orchestral Instrument Prizes had the opportunity to perform for Artists in Concert. Not only does this concert demonstrate an elite standard of performers, but artists also competed for the R.T. and A.E. Jefferies Bursary. For competitors across all prizes, the BGGS Music competitions are an amazing opportunity to practice solo performance skills, demonstrate their dedication, and receive feedback from incredible guest adjudicators. Dorothy Rae (11G)

NAME OF PRIZE

STUDENTS NAME YR LVL / HOUSE

R.T. JEFFERIES INTERHOUSE CHORAL AWARD

England House Shu-Ning Liang

8O

WIGHT MEMORIAL MEDAL FOR MUSIC Donated in memory of Miss Anne Wight (1881), formerly a pupil of the School and a teacher on the staff, who was drowned in the wreck of the Quetta , 28 February, 1890.

11R 10O 10H 10B 11G 11R 11M 11H

THE GILLIES ENSEMBLE COMPETITION (Instrumental)

Lisa Walsham Holly Xu Allie Na E Lyn Won Zara Hosking Iha Agrawal Maeve Lynch Lucinda Isbel Matilda Joice

THE GILLIES ENSEMBLE COMPETITION (Vocal)

THE VALDA RAWENIA GILLIES (1920) PRIZE FOR PIANO Awarded for a performance of a set piece by Mozart or Bach.

8G

Zoe Harding-Smith

12M

THE MYFANWY WILLIAMS PRIZE FOR MUSIC This award acknowledges an outstanding contribution to the junior and/or intermediate Music program. It was presented for the first time in 2002 by her daughter in memory of Myfanwy Williams (1921), who was committed to and involved in music all her life.

THE ACIE ALEXINA GILLIES (1921) MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR VIOLIN Donated in 1970 by her sisters, Merna and Valda, past pupils of the School.

Holly Xu

10O

Shu-Ning Liang

8O

THE R.T. JEFFERIES AND ANNE ETHELDREDA JEFFERIES BURSARY This commemorates the first Music Master of the School (1875) and his daughter, an alumna of the School and a past Music Mistress, whose gift it is. The bursary is awarded to the ‘most promising student in the School for the advancement of music’. THE EDMEE GAINSFORD VIOLA PRIZE This prize was given in memory of Mrs Edmee Gainsford (Park, 1936) who attended the School in the 1930s and maintained a lifelong interest in, and encouragement of, young musical performers and composers. Her son, Dr Len Gainsford, presented the School with a Garbor Draskoczy viola which will be played for 12 months by the School’s most accomplished viola player each year.

Elizabeth Fox

12O

PRIZE FOR STRINGS PRIZE FOR BRASS

E Lyn Won Dorothy Rae

10B 11G 10O 11R 11R

PRIZE FOR PERCUSSION PRIZE FOR WOODWIND

Shinie Gu

Lisa Walsham

PRIZE FOR VOICE

Iha Agrawal Aurora Lin

PRIZE FOR NON-ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENT

8B

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CONCERT

The 2023 International Women’s Day concert was held on Friday 3 March in the stunning Thomas Dixon Centre, home to the Queensland Ballet. Our talented musicians performed a range of pieces celebrating the powerful contribution of female composers to the canon, with a number of exceptional student works performed for the first time. Chamber Singers gave an outstanding rendition of Freya Smith’s (12E) Wildflowers , a work inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream . Further, Chamber Strings performed Lisa Walsham’s (11R) il dolce , a skilfully crafted composition that explored contrasting musical moods to great effect. Grammar Woman Charlotte Parsonage (2022) returned to personally perform her stunning coming-of-age piece, The Kids . The audience also enjoyed performances from Symphonic Winds, Big Band and Symphony Orchestra, who showcased the truly outstanding depth of talent here at Girls Grammar. I know I speak on behalf of all of the musicians when I express gratitude to the Instrumental Music Department, especially Ms Davidson and Ms Harper, for their tireless effort in making this signature concert so memorable. Kiara Chang (12B) Strings Captain

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