2014 School Magazine

special to see all of the girls come together after months of long, tiring rehearsals to produce an outstanding show. The three of us were so proud of all the girls and their effort on the night, as were the teachers. Year 12s were treated to a fun-filled night at the Music Farewell to celebrate their time in the department. It was definitely an emotional evening but was a lovely opportunity for the girls to say thank you and goodbye to teachers and students who had supported their music endeavours throughout their time at BGGS. The success however didn’t stop there. Not long after Gala saw Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Chamber Singers and combined choirs on stage at Speech Day to see off the Year 12s, and before we knew it, the year had ended with our annual Christmas Carols held in the last week of the School year. Overall, this year has been a truly memorable one within the BGGS music department. The diverse range of talents, from classical singers to double bassists demonstrates what a unique and special music department of which we have been fortunate to be part. 2014 has seen an incredible array of performances and talents, but it is the friendships formed and the skills developed that will remain with us. We feel incredibly honoured to have led the Music Department in 2014 and are proud of, and thankful for, our time and experiences in such a wonderful environment. ■

Term III began with a bang with a Symphonic Winds and Wind Symphony workshop with Jason Noble from New York on the first day back. The girls all learnt a lot from a different conducting style and found the experience highly enriching. This was closely followed by Open Day where Level 1 of the CLC was transformed into an artistic hub showcasing all groups in a more informal but highly enjoyable setting which demonstrated the School’s music programme. August also saw many students forming smaller ensembles to enter the Gillies Ensemble competitions, a platform which allows girls to experience working in small groups and to develop their ensemble skills. After much hard work, a Strings Group consisting of Fiona Qui (9R), Stephanie Yesberg (11G), Chanelle Ren (10O) and Lillian Ma (9B) were victorious with their lovely renditions of Quartet No. 66 in G Major and Op. 77, No.1 , both by Haydn, and the Year 12 vocal group consisting of Sophia Bergman (12G), Claudia Cameron (12B), Merinda Dias-Jayasinha (12G) and Sadie MacDonald (12W) with their haunting rendition of Because by Lennon/McCartney and joyful rendition of Walk Like A Man by Gaudio/Crewe. The Choral Concert, themed Around the World , was also a great success with Chamber Singers, Grammar Singers, Chorale, Grammar Voices and Grammar Chorus performing a diverse selection of challenging pieces. All groups displayed such a high standard of musicianship and it was lovely to see the growth from the beginning of the year, especially from our junior choirs. Term III also included three string festivals where all string players joined with fellow students from a variety of other schools to build new skills and present challenging repertoire at each concert. Mr Sullivan and Mr Chin (from BGS) exceeded expectations this year by dancing energetically in chicken suits during the Chicken Dance finale at the Intermediate String Festival. Perhaps the most memorable concert of the year was held in Term IV. Gala, this year themed ‘After Dark’, was a truly spectacular night, which showcased the incredible talent of our senior ensembles and combined choirs. It was so

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