Grammar Gazette-Issue 1, 2020

FROM THE CLASSROOM DESIGN

Celebrating Female Composers International Women’s Day

Mrs Emma Dron Director of Instrumental Music

In this commercial design task, students created pod accommodation based on a client brief. Students practised rapid prototyping (physical and virtual making), spatial literacy (working with scale drawings, orthographic projection) and client engagement. They gained cross-disciplinary proficiency, communication skills and competence in applying scientific, engineering andmathematical principles to their design. This project, 'Air Pod', by Arwen Dias-Jayasinha (12G), features the design of a safe, comfortable and affordable space in which travellers are able to rest between flights.

On Friday 6 March, the Instrumental Music Department presented its third annual International Women’s Day concert, showcasing the repertoire of contemporary female composers from around the globe. In a time where female composers account for less than 7 per cent of music programmed and presented in music halls, each year this concert aims to help change that statistic just a little Pieces performed were entirely composed since 2001, by living, contemporary female composers, 50 per cent of whom are Australian The concert presented three new student compositions, along with world premiere performances of two specially commissioned works by Australian female composers, and featured performances by Symphonic Winds, Chorale, Chamber Singers, Chamber Strings, Mendelssohn Strings and the Big Band Australian composers, Catherina Likhuta and Julia Potter, both wrote moving pieces for Girls Grammar performers A composer, pianist and recording artist, Catherine composed a piece called Through Healers Eyes ,

which was inspired by the life of acclaimed BGGS alumna, Grace Wilson (1879–1957;1899), and her work as an Army Nurse during World War I andWorldWar II The piece is an emotional and honest depiction of war JuliaPotter isanemergingAustralian composer, whose commissioned piece, Eyes on the Stars , serves as a message of encouragement and resilience to young women, reminding them that no setback should be a hindrance in the pursuit of achievement and adventure Student composer, Tiffany Yeo (10E), winner of the Combined Strings Composition Competition, debuted Tango Grandioso, an original string orchestral work, and winner of the Treble Choir Composition Competition, Abigail Lui (12O), shared her piece, Lift Up Your Voice and Sing , which encourages young women to stand up for their beliefs Erika Thompson (12W) and Lily Lau-Coombs (12O), performed their winning entry of the singer/songwriter section of the BGGS Composition Competition, Better Without You

‘Our song explores the realisation of women’s strength and independence. ‘We were inspired by female soul legends, particularly Aretha Franklin, as we aimed to make a statement about the idea that women shouldn’t have to rely on someone else to be satisfied. Particularly influential songs from which we drew inspiration were Franklin’s Think and Respect , as she asserts her own value in these timeless feminist anthems ‘We wrote our verses in the key of D, incorporating seventh chords to emulate the jazz style of Norah Jones and Sade The lyrics in the verses capture the initial feelings of affection, while our chorus focuses on the realisation that these feelings are not the same as love, or in turn, self-love ‘Finally, the bridge issues a climactic but satisfying end to the piece, and is absolutely integral to the realisation of women’s strength and independence It is characterised by its F#min7 chord which adds a notably darker feel and connotes ferocity and seriousness, contrasting the previously stable verses This makes for an enthralling end to the piece, all the while leaving listeners to ponder the inspiring urgency behind these issues.’ —Erika Thompson (12W) and Lily Lau-Coombs (12O)

far left Lily Lau-Coombs (12O)

Arwen Dias-Jayasinha (12G) Air Pod

left Combined Strings perform at the International Women’s Day concert

Gazette

Gazette

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

08

Issue 1, 2020

09

Issue 1, 2020