Music Matters
Diana Springford – Head of Music
Night of Instrumental Music: Wednesday 4 September
Our instrumental ensembles have been working hard to prepare for the annual Night of Instrumental Music (NOIM) in Week 7. This wonderful (also popular!) concert is our main showcase for all our small, medium and large instrumental ensembles. NOIM is also a compulsory component of the Primary Instrumental Program (IP). All students from Years 3-6 will perform at the concert in their Year Group ensembles.
For many of our younger musicians it is their first performance for an audience other than their family. This is also a lovely opportunity to see the younger and older musicians perform on the same evening. Parents of performers have received an information letter and a request to grant online permission via the Parent Portal.
The concert is in two halves, with a brief interval in the middle. The first half, from 6.00 pm to 6.50 pm is for every student who plays a string instrument (violin, viola or cello). The second half, from 7.15 pm to 8.30 pm, is for all the other concert band instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, euphonium, tuba and percussion) and all our Concert Bands, Stage Bands, Jazz Ensembles and the Clarinet Ensemble.
It is important that all members of participating ensembles perform in this event. Please encourage students to practise their parts at home to ensure the event is satisfying and enjoyable for them.
All parents and friends are welcome to attend this free concert. Please note that siblings of performers are most welcome but should sit quietly with their parents and should not roam around during the performance.
HICES Music Camp: Sunday Sunday 18 – Wednesday 21 August 2019
Ashley Kim (centre) playing violin
The HICES Music Camp and Jazz Camp ran through freezing windy weather in the comfortable “Tops” conference centre in Stanwell Tops. Gidon Grunseit (Year 10) and Ashley Kim (Year 7) are to be congratulated for making it through the competitive audition process required to be invited to these camps, and then for participating in the work and fun of long days of intensive rehearsing and learning with students from schools all over NSW. Gidon’s Jazz Camp experience culminated in a concert in the well-known jazz venue “Foundry 616” whilst Ashely’s String Orchestra experience culminated in a concert at the beautiful Sydney Town Hall.
Night of Song
On Thursday 22 August 2019, over 150 students from Years K-12 performed in our Night of Song. This is our main annual event featuring choirs and vocal soloists and it was a beautiful and inspiring concert. We commend all the performers, conductors and accompanists for their hard work and enthusiasm. Special thanks to Mr Burley for organising the event and to everyone who worked behind-the-scenes to produce this wonderful evening.
