Music Matters
Diana Springford – Director of Music P-12
Welcome to our Music Matters page! 🎶
It has been another busy week in the Music Department!
HSC Music Showcase
It was a pleasure to hear the wonderful performances of our Year 12 HSC Music 1 students on Monday evening to celebrate their work this year, in preparation for their forthcoming HSC performances. They are to be congratulated on their work and we wish them all the best for their HSC Viva Voces, composition submissions and performances, which are all due in Week 8. Thanks to their private music tutors and teachers who have worked with them over the years, especially Mr Adam Majsay who has had this class on and off since they were in Year 8 and has guided them on their long musical journeys. A very special thank you to Mr Daniel Burley, Mr Stefano Caroleo, Mr Graham Burns and Mr George Nikolopoulos who accompanied them and to the appreciative audience who attended the event to support the students.
Thank you to Sharon Arnott for capturing their performances in photographs:
HICES Music FestivalÂ
Congratulations to our High School students who auditioned and were accepted into the prestigious HICES Music Festival from Sunday 13 August 2023 – Wednesday 16 August 2023: Ethan Garfinkel (Year 8), Mirabella Marshall and Olivia Byrne (both Year 7). The event, featuring students from HICES Schools across NSW, was a 4 day residential camp culminating in a performance at Sydney Town Hall on the Wednesday evening.Â
Student reflections:
I feel fortunate to have been able to participate in the HICES Music Festival. It was an amazing experience to meet students from all over New South Wales and to connect over our shared love of music. I played the Tuba in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and as the sole Tuba player in my band, I had to closely watch the conductor to make sure I didn’t miss my cue. The piece was very intricate and while it was challenging, I left camp a more confident musician. On the night of the concert, we performed at Town Hall, which was a beautiful venue. The highlight was the finale where all 500 students stood on stage together and sang “I wish I knew how it would feel to be free”. I would encourage all music students to consider auditioning for future HICES Music Festivals, you will not regret it! Ethan Garfinkel (Year 8)
HICES was such an amazing experience for us to meet people from other schools and with different cultures and religions. We spent most of our time in rehearsals where we worked so hard to put together the songs we had all been working on. The concert at the Town Hall at the end was incredible. We all loved watching everyone perform. I really enjoyed having the chance to attend. Olivia Byrne (Year 7)
At HICES Music Festival at Stanwell Tops, we started the week by getting to know each other and getting a feel for some of the songs we would be singing. I was part of the Vocal Ensemble but there were also Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, and the Chorale. I got the chance to meet and make friends with so many people who had many of the same hobbies as me, while creating some amazing music.Â
On the second night we had a talent show and we also had a Just Dance competition between ensembles! As the week progressed, we started to learn them off by heart and they sounded unbelievable! On the last day, I got to participate in an activity – a giant swing where you go up really high and swing all the way above the side of the cliff (don’t worry this is totally safe with harnesses). That night we had a preview concert. This is basically showing everyone at camp what we have been working on.Â
Suddenly it was the final day. In between rehearsals, we had the chance to participate in the World Music Program. We learnt all about Middle Eastern music and got to play some! I found this fascinating as you don’t experience this very often. Some people played their instruments, but most people played egg shakers or cajons. Later, with the audience filing in, we were waiting in anticipation to start. Coincidentally, this night was the same as the Matildas match against England! Everyone was huddled up trying to watch the game on people’s phones backstage! At the end of the night, we performed a finale piece with everyone called ‘I wish I knew how it would feel to be free’. Overall, the HICES Music camp was an incredible experience!  Mirabella Marshall (Year 7)
Thank you to Mr Dylan Kramer who attended as a supervising teacher to support the students.
IPSHA Performing Arts Festival
On Monday, a large contingent of 65 students from Years 3 – 6 participated in the IPSHA Performing Arts Festival at Sydney Town Hall. This was a rewarding opportunity to perform at a special venue with an appreciative audience and required diligence and commitment from the students to master their repertoire as well as a daytime rehearsal at the venue. The Junior Choir were accompanied by select Years 5 – 6 instrumentalists in presenting their own item – a version of ABBA’s I Have a Dream in English and Hebrew – as well as joining combined, all-schools choral and instrumental items. Thank you to Mr Owen (organisational leadership) as well as Ms Yendell and Mr Burley for preparing them so well for this performance over many weeks and to those members of staff from the Primary School who assisted with event logistics and supervision.Â
Dates and events in Term 3
- Night of Song (all choirs from K-12 will perform, plus some soloists and a not-to-be-missed inaugural performance by our new pop-up choir of parents, alumni and staff) – Monday 28 August 2023.
- Years 10 – 11 Elective Music to Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra – Wednesday 30 August 2023 at midday at Sydney Opera House.
- Year 10 Elective Music to the Burger Centre – Thursday 7 September 2023.
- Junior Jazz Combo performing at Grandparents Day – Friday 8 September 2023.
- Copland Concert Band One-Day Band Tour – Thursday 21 September 2023.
Private Music Tuition and Infant Strings Program
Thank you to those who have already advised us of changes to private tuition and Infant Strings Program (ISP) enrolments for next term. The deadline for new enrolments, notification of changes or intention to discontinue for Term 4, is Friday 1 September 2023. All students currently receiving private music tuition and students in Years K-2 who are currently participating in the ISP will be automatically re-enrolled into tutor schedules along with students commencing for the first time. To enrol or discontinue please visit our Music Portal Page and use the links to the relevant online forms. Formal notification of intention to discontinue must be received now to avoid being committed to the full term of lessons and liable for fees. Please contact music@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions. Â
The schedules for Term 4 will be created at the end of term and emailed during October term break.
Please visit our Music Portal Page for information about:
- Private Music Tuition (beginning and discontinuing)
- Ensemble and Choir membership for K-12 students
- Infant Strings Program (ISP) for K-2
- Performance opportunities
- Borrowing an orchestral instrument. Â
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