Grammar Gazette - Issue 2, 2023

MS LAURINDA DAVIDSON DIRECTOR OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

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ELEMENTS — Sky Above, Earth Below, Peace Within GALA CONCERT AUDIENCES TUNE INTO THE WORLD AROUND THEM E ach year, Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s Gala Concert showcases some of the School’s most 2

Indigenous Musician and 2023 Queensland Australian of the Year, William Barton, added a captivating layer to the concert with extraordinary performances on the didgeridoo. Barton is one of Australia’s leading didgeridoo players as well as a composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist. He first learned the instrument from his uncle, Arthur Peterson, an elder of the Wannyi, Lardil and Kalkandunga people. Barton’s musicianship was integral to the evening, with the sounds of the didgeridoo conjuiring up sounds of country.

The Gala Concert provides a platform for students to share their incredible talents. Irene Shim (12G) enraptured the audience with her skilful violin solo of Henryk Wieniawski’s Concerto for Violin in D Minor, Movement 3. Her soft and soulful performance transported the audience to the heavens, while Jacqui Trappett’s (12O) vocal solo was captivating as part of the Big Band’s rendition of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

passionate and talented musicians in a mesmerising night of musical exploration. This year’s theme, Elements— Sky Above, Earth Below, Peace Within, brought together the power of music and the awe-inspiring forces of nature— earth, wind, fire and water—for a magical evening at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Parents, students, and members of the Girls Grammar community filled the Concert Hall for an evening of enchantment and inspiration. The night began with the Massed Treble Choir and Symphonic Winds combining in a moving rendition of Solid Rock, a song that powerfully speaks to Australian Indigenous sovereignty. Originally written by Shane Howard and recorded by Australian rock band Goanna, the cover amplified a message carried in the lyrics of the song, acknowledging the unceasing spirit of First Nations people in advancing the issue of Indigenous land rights.

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GAZETTE • ISSUE 2, 2023 ISSUE 2, 2023

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL