Diana Springford – Head of Music

Welcome to our Music Matters page! 🎶

Recent Student Performances

Stage 4 Rock Band gave a fabulous performance at St Joseph’s College Battle of the Bands, full of charisma. Mazal Tov to Jacob Tintner (Year 7), Maya Hersch, Max Rose, Alexander Gellert and Jonathan Goldberg (all Year 8) and many thanks to the parents who schlepped out to Hunters Hill on a rainy Sunday. Special thanks to George Nikolopoulos, who prepared the band so beautifully and performed roadie duty too, in the rain. 

The video of their performance will be available for a short time on Vimeo here.

Our Twilight Concerts provide an intimate and formal performance opportunity for students receiving private music tuition here at school. Over the past few weeks, many 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 28 performers ranging in age from Years 1-9. 

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. Congratulations and thanks to the students who have worked hard preparing their performances and to those who attended to support them. 

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 Term 2, 2023 and preference will be given to those who missed the opportunity this time.

Instrument Maintenance Check Day
Tuesday 29 November 2022  – Wednesday 30 November 2022
(Week 8)

If you are borrowing any school instrument, please bring it into the Music Department by 8.00 am on Tuesday 29 November 2022 (or on Wednesday 30 November 2022, if you do IP on that day) to be checked and serviced by our team. Instruments on loan to K-2 strings players in ISP will be retained after their lesson in Week 7 for checking in Week 8. Regrettably, any instruments which are not serviced in our maintenance check will need to be taken by parents to be serviced at a music shop at their own expense.

Students should pick up their instruments on Thursday, unless they get an email from us or are returning them permanently. Instruments should be clean and have a student name tag attached with the instrument barcode on the reverse. If this name tag is missing, please ask Mrs De Araujo in the music staffroom to label it for you.

End of Year 6 IP (Instrumental Program) and continuing Music Tuition in High School

For parents of Year 6 students who are coming to the end of the compulsory Instrumental Program, you have received an email about the return of your school loaned instrument and your intentions regarding private music tuition and High School ensembles. Please reply to Joanne De Araujo

Dates and Events

Week 7

• Aladdin Jnr performances
• IP and ISP are on as normal.
• Early morning and late afternoon Primary School ensemble rehearsals on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are cancelled because of Aladdin Jnr performances: Junior Chamber Choir, Bernstein & Gershwin Concert Bands, Year 6 Rock Band and Korngold and Rubinstein String Orchestras.

Week 8

• Instrument Stocktake and Maintenance Days – full details above.

Week 9

• Primary and High School end of year Presentation events.

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 via the online forms on our MusicPortal Page. The deadline for new enrolments or intention to discontinue for Term 1 is today. All students currently receiving private music tuition and students in Years K-1, who are currently participating in the Infant Strings Program, will be automatically re-enrolled along with students commencing lessons for the first time. Formal discontinuation notice must be received 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, 2023 will be created at the end of term and emailed in late January.