Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2023

FROM THE STUDENTS

The Community of Choir SINGING THE SOUNDS OF BGGS Dorothy Rae (11G)

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Good Food and Greater Connections THE POWER OF GIRLS GR A MM A R SERVICE FOR THE BRISB A NE COMMUNITY Sophie Lillyman (12B)

I have enjoyed being a member of various choirs at Girls Grammar since my earliest days in Year 7. During primary school I sang in the choir too, but I wasn’t sure if I’d continue this in secondary

school—at that time I considered myself more of a ‘band kid’. However, when I saw the Girls Grammar Encore Choir perform at the Queensland Youth Music Awards (QYMA) in 2018 and witnessed the incredible standard of performance from the School’s musicians, I knew then that I had to join, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Choir was the main way I met new people in my first few weeks at BGGS. I started in the Encore and Chorus choirs in Year 7 and ended up making some wonderful friends right away. Now, I’m in Chorale and Chamber Singers, but I still enjoy spending time with the choir friends I met in my younger years. The community culture is something I’ve always found incredibly unique and rewarding about the School’s choirs— regardless of which one it is. A highlight of being part of a choir for me is the range of repertoire and performances—we get to sing a wide variety of pieces, in many different spaces. Recent favourites have been Las Amarillas and Muusika, from last year’s Cathedral Concert. They both challenged our lyric-learning and musical awareness, but the effort was worth it to perform them in the acoustics of St John’s Cathedral. Another of my favourite performances is the International Women’s Day Concert. I’ve only performed in it twice, but both times I have had a wonderful experience. In 2022, not only did I sing in the choir, but one of my compositions was performed as well. This year at the International Women’s Day Concert, we had the pleasure of performing in the Thomas Dixon Centre—a heritage-listed former factory that is now a venue for the performing arts in West End. It was a different venue to where we usually perform, but it was a fun challenge. In our Chamber Singers piece, She Walks in Beauty, I also had the chance to sing a solo. These kinds of unique experiences in choir make me so grateful for the BGGS Instrumental Music program. Of course, another part of what makes choir so fantastic are the staff at BGGS. Through the years, the conductors, accompanists, singing teachers, and all the Music staff at the School have been an invaluable support to students. Their insight, enthusiasm, and encouragement have not only helped me grow as a musician, but also to enjoy all aspects of School life. Overall, choir has been a phenomenal experience for me. It’s unlocked many opportunities, and simply made me a better musician. I consider it a privilege to sing and perform with the amazing students and conductors at Girls Grammar.

As BGGS students, we are responsible for the positive impact our School can have on the broader Brisbane community. Given our School’s proximity to the city, and the

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ongoing cost of living crisis, many students are keenly aware of the issue of homelessness and want to help make a change. One way we can do this is through volunteering with the Coffee Brigade (CB)—a not‐for‐profit organisation of volunteers that has been offering food, hot drinks, and other essentials to people experiencing homelessness within the Brisbane CBD for more than five decades. Senior students at BGGS can donate their time, two mornings per Term, and help with the preparation of sandwiches at the CB kitchens, which are then distributed to those in need around the city. It has been heart‑warming to hear from so many of my peers who, despite the 6.30 am start, are very enthusiastic about participating in this initiative. Personally, being able to chat with other students, sing along to some great music, and start the morning on the right foot—all while supporting a worthy cause—is an experience I am so thankful for. Participating has only made me more passionate about the positive impact we can make whilst still at school. As the CB Student Leader, I also organised a BGGS community-wide food drive in Term 1. For two weeks, staff, students, and their families came together and donated essential food items, including long-life milk, tinned items, soup, noodles, and biscuits. To see a physical representation of our School’s generosity and kindness through the sheer volume of donations was immensely rewarding, and I further understood our power to stop people from going hungry and bring a smile to their face. Thanks must be given to our coordinators and volunteers for their tireless support, and to the generous students and families who make our contribution to this cause possible.

CAPTIONS 1 COFFEE BRIGADE MEMBERS PREPARING SANDWICHES: TRISH CHOW (12H); NATASHA MIRIC (12O); MS YONNIE MCDONNELL; ANNABEL MCCARTHY (12L); CARA BATTAGLIA (12H) AND NORA LI (12R) 2 SOPHIE LILLYMAN (12B)

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BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL

GAZETTE • ISSUE 1, 2023 ISSUE 1, 2023