Lisa McCowage – Assistant Director of Music (Extra Curricular) K-12

New Assistant Director of Music (Extra-Curricular) 2024

I am excited to join the Emanuel School community in my new role as the Assistant Director of Music (Extra-Curricular). As we embark on this journey together, I look forward to getting to know each of you and creating memorable musical experiences. 

You will find announcements here about our busy Music Program, so please check this and the Music Portal Page on a weekly basis. Please read all about our Years K -12 Music Competition this week in a separate article in this newsletter.

Join us and play music – we have lots of inclusive ensembles!

• You will find the rehearsal schedule here for all our ensembles and choirs, which we will continue to update as necessary. On the second tab of the spreadsheet, you will find ensemble descriptions and the level expected to join.
• Most ensembles begin rehearsing in Week 3 even though Years 7 – 8 are on camp. 
• If you are already in an ensemble or choir you don’t need to audition again, just turn up. 
• For new members, check the schedule for how to join. Be aware that some ensembles require auditions. These auditions are in Week 3 and 4 and the sign-up sheets have been on the music block wall for this week. If you have not signed up, please do so now! Scroll down for a table of audition time information. The musical content required for the audition is on the sign on sheet and also in the second tab of our rehearsal schedule.
• If you have been in an ensemble or choir for Terms 1 and 2 and are in Years 4 – 12, you will be eligible for Music Camp which is also a lot of fun.

IP classes and Extra-curricular Music Ensemble Rehearsals both resume in Week 3 in 2024.

• Year 3 and Year 5: The first day of IP is Tuesday 13 February 2024
• Year 4 and Year 6: The first day of IP is Wednesday 14 February 2024

Private Music Tuition and Infant Strings Program for 2024

Private Music Tuition will resume in Week 2 (from Monday 5 February). Schedules for this term have been emailed to parents (on 31 January 2024) who enrolled before the end of last term. Late enrolments will be processed when we can, and parents will be contacted when we can phase new students into private lessons. Please see the music tile on the Parent Portal here for information on how to sign up.

K-2 Infant Strings Program classes will also resume from Week 2.

Instruments repaired and ready for collection 

All instruments that went off site for repairs over the summer are back and ready for collection from the cabinets at the bottom of the stairs into the Music Department.

Music Camp 2024

Music Camp is in Term 2 this year, Week 9, Monday 24 June 2024 – Thursday 27 June 2024, with an approximate cost of $600.00. Only core ensemble/choir members are eligible to come, and you must be a member of one of these in Term 1 to get the information. 

Please note there have been two changes to Music Camp this year, which we hope will give more depth to the experience, but perhaps less range! Firstly, and sadly, Mt Sinai College are not coming with us. 

Also, although the larger extension ensembles and choirs will be rehearsing at camp, the rock bands will not be and they will have their own, different, opportunities this year.