2023 School Magazine

CATHEDRAL CONCERT

The annual Cathedral Concert is always a highlight of the School year, and this year was no exception. As the afternoon rays shone through the stained-glass windows, an eclectic mix of music could be heard from within. Senior ensembles went above and beyond performing renowned works by prominent composers such as Dvorak, Copland, Holst, Vivaldi and Debussy. I had the honour of performing the Copland Clarinet Concerto alongside Chamber Strings and was thrilled to showcase my original composition, The Spirit of Purnululu . Both were incredible opportunities that I will cherish forever. The concert also showcased amazing soloists including oboist, MeiMei Zhang, and vocalist, Scout Sommerfeld. The acoustics made every note sing through St John’s Cathedral, transforming the serenity of the venue. A huge thank you must go to everyone involved, including all performers, soloists, student composers and, of course, the talented staff who made the concert so special. Lisa Walsham (11R) MUSICAL THEATRE EXTENSION ACTIVITY In the first week of Term 3, a group of select girls completed a week-long Musical Theatre Extension Activity. The program was introduced for the first time this year, with video auditions submitted throughout Term 2. Four ensemble pieces were workshopped in the week, with repertoire drawn from a variety of musicals, which exposed the select thirteen girls to contrasting styles. The highlight of the week was presenting our hard work to family and friends on Saturday afternoon. We were able to perform the four pieces workshopped throughout the week—collaborating with a band and three senior students performing solo pieces. The show was a vibrant celebration of our learning. We would like to thank Marcia Penman who was our facilitator and mentor for the week. Marcia graduated from Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium in 2016 and, since then, has been a prominent performer in Brisbane and Melbourne. We were so very grateful to have such an incredible and inspiring artist work with us for the week. Additionally, Mr McGrath has been so crucial for this program and the week running smoothly. Without him this would not have been possible, and the program would not be happening. This activity was such a wonderful success and we are already looking forward to the 2024 course, and welcoming more students into the program! Lucinda Isbel (11H) and Maeve Lynch (11M)

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2023 | 113