Diana Springford – Director of Music P-12

Welcome to our Music Matters page! 🎶

Here and on our portal page, you will find announcements about our busy Music program, so please check in regularly.

Recent Student Performances

The ceremony for the Opening of the B’Yachad Building was attended by community members and donors on Sunday 19 November 2023.

Adding welcoming and celebratory music to the event were the Jazz Combo, mentored by George Nikolopoulos and the Klezmer Ensemble, mentored by Sarit Spira. Each group performed a 30-minute set for a very appreciative audience.

Our Twilight Concerts provide an intimate and formal performance opportunity for students receiving private music tuition here at School. Over the past few weeks, 32 of our dedicated student instrumentalists and vocalists have been preparing for a live performance in front of family, friends and peers. On Wednesday evening, these two highly enjoyable concerts featured students ranging in age from Years 2 – 9.

Kol Hakavod and thank you to the students who have worked hard preparing these performances and to those who attended to support them.

Thank you to Mr Burley for organising this showcase event and for rehearsing, accompanying and supporting our students. Thank you to our team of peripatetic tutors who have prepared these students so beautifully.

The Klezmer Ensemble at the Opening of the B’Yachad Building on Sunday

We encourage students of all levels to perform regularly and to express their interest via their music tutor to participate in future concerts. The next Twilight Concerts will be in Terms 2, 3 and 4 and preference will be given to those who missed the opportunity this time.

Mazal Tov to our High School Rock Bands for their recent performances. Our Years 9-12 Rock Band competed at the Joey’s Battle of the Bands on Sunday 12 November 2023. They performed Kilby Girl by The Backseat Lovers. Ben Fram was awarded ‘most promising drummer’ of the day! They repeated this performance at High School Assembly the following week. At the same assembly, the Years 7-9 Rock Band also performed with their rendition of Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Thank you to their band director, George Nikolopoulos for his support of both groups.

At this week’s High School Assembly, the Senior Chamber Choir, conducted by Ezra Hersch, gave a beautiful performance of When Somebody Loved Me, by Randy Newman, arranged by Remington Owen.

We would like to thank Aaron Berkowitz, Dylan Budai and Rory Nathan for their audio production of so many of our performances this term.

Term 4 dates and events for your diary

• Instrument Maintenance and Stocktake: next Tuesday and Wednesday: please see our separate article with instructions on when to drop off and collect instruments.

Most ensembles have finished rehearsing now. The following ensembles and choirs will be performing in the end of year presentation events. If additional rehearsals are required, they will be informed by their conductors:

• Years K – 2 Presentation Day
  · Infants Choir
  · Perlman Strings
• Years 3 – 6 Presentation Night
  · Junior Choir
  · Junior Chamber Choir
  · Year 6 Rock Band
  · Gershwin + Bernstein combined Concert Bands (PS members only)
• High School Speech Night
  · Senior Choir
  · Jazz Combo
  · Mendelssohn String Ensemble
  · Klezmer Ensemble

Our Years 3 – 6 Instrumental Program (IP) classes have finished for 2023. Private music tuition and Infant Strings (ISP) classes will finish in Week 8 (week ending Friday 1 December).

Well done to all members of our ensembles, IP and ISP students for your commitment to practise, rehearsals and achievements this year!

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 year. The deadline for new enrolments, notification of changes or intention to discontinue for Term 1 is today, Friday 24 November. 2023. All students currently receiving private music tuition and students in Years K-1, 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.

The schedules for Term 1 will be created during term break and emailed in late January.

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