HSC Practical Works Exhibition: Visual Arts

CLASSROOM MUSIC NEWS  

Music Festival Week 2018  

Over the past year there have been a string of outstanding achievements in Music. The 2017 HSC results were brilliant, with 100% of Music 1 students attaining Band 6 results and yet another Saints graduate gaining entry to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, to do a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. 2018 marked the start of the Year 5 Instrumental Immersion Program, where all students learn to play woodwind, brass and string instruments as part of their classroom music studies. In the Term 1 holidays, a group of talented music students represented the College with a number of fine performances in the USA. More recently, all College bands performed with distinction at the Sydney Eisteddfod and the College stage bands have auditioned successfully for entry into the prestigious Manly Jazz Festival.  

Clearly, Saints Music is alive and well, and continuing to flourish. In keeping with this ground swell of energy and creative excellence, this year’s Music Festival Week theme is, ‘Crescendo’; a musical term meaning to progressively increase in intensity. The College Music Festival is a week-long event, starting Friday the 31^st of August and concluding, Friday the 7^th of September. It is one of the fine traditions of your College, one where Music hits the stage under the spotlight!  

Year 12 Music Showcase  

The festival opens on with Year 12 Music Showcase, where our Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension students will present their HSC performance programs in concert. I extend an invitation to all members of the College community to attend in support of this talented group of students. Year 12 Music Showcase will be held on Friday evening 31 August and it will be in a dinner/show format; further details will be made available shortly. It is worth noting that this particular event is an invaluable learning experience for all years 9-11 Elective Music students and for those considering choosing Music as an HSC subject in the future. For more information, please contact Alan Caulfield (Faculty Coordinator Music) Caulfield.a@saint.aug.nsw.edu.au.  

Solo Recitals  

A key event of the College Music Festival is the Solo Recitals, where our private music tuition and elective music students have the opportunity to perform in a formal concert setting. The College has engaged esteemed professionals for the event to provide students with valuable feedback and adjudication in each instrumental and vocal section. It is anticipated that all College musicians will participate in the Solo Recitals, performing an own choice piece and they will be adjudicated in year groups levels. Solo Recitals will be held 6.30 to 8.30pm on Monday 3 September (Week 7) and the following sections being offered:  

• Voice
• Keyboard (piano and pitched percussion)
• Woodwind
• Brass
• Guitar
• Bass guitar
• Drums  

The Music Faculty are very much looking forward to working with the boys in preparation for this prestigious event. For more information and application forms, please contact Lynne Papahatzis (Music Department Administrative Assistant) Lpapahatzis@saintaug.nsw.edu.au.  

Composition Competition  

Considerable time is given in classroom Music lessons to the most creative aspect of music, and that is composition. With an aim of refining their composing and creative skills, a number of students have taken the additional opportunity of participating in Composition Club; it takes place lunchtime on Mondays. Those avid composers and song writers, and all other creative students are strongly encouraged to enter a piece in the festival’s Composition Competition.  

This year’s Composition Competition format has changed slightly. Two sections will be offered; the first for rock, pop and electronic music, and; the second is for Art music (Classical and Jazz). Although students of all year levels will be adjudicated together, each works will be assessed on their merit in terms of the composer’s year level. Composition Competition presentations will take place at the Music Festival Week Showcase on Thursday evening 6 September. For more information and application forms, please contact Alan Caulfield (Faculty Coordinator Music) caulfielda@saintaug.nsw.edu.au.  

Battle of the Bands (‘Rock in the Quad’)  

One of the more popular Music Festival Week events is Rock in the Quad. This is a lunchtime concert series for contemporary music performance in genres such as rock, pop, folk and jazz rock music. Soloists, duos and small groups are all welcome to participate.  

The Rock in the Quad schedule generally fills up very quickly, so any students interested should get in and see Joe Montz Jmontz@saintaug.nsw.edu.au as soon as possible.  

Music Showcase  

As is the tradition, Music Festival Week culminates with the Music Showcase concert, where all Cocurricular Music groups and select section winners from the Solo Recitals will be featured. It will be held on Thursday 6 September in Brimson Hall. As with all Music Festival Week events, an invitation is extended to the whole community, to come and see Saints Music and spirit in full flight.  

It is with great anticipation that we await Music Festival Week 2018 and we look forward to seeing our students’ crescendo throughout this term as all things musical build in intensity!  

Year 11 Music Soiree  

Year 11 Music 1 class will be presenting their second Soiree for the year, on Tuesday 14 August at 7.00pm in the Lecceto Auditorium.  

The students have been diligent in preparing for this event which will form a significant part of their Preliminary Course assessment. They would greatly appreciate your attendance. Our Soirees provide a valuable opportunity to gain performance experience and to measure student development in this area. Come along and support our musicians and enjoy an evening of wonderful music. Each student’s chosen piece is representative of the topics, ‘Theatre Music (Musical Theatre Focus)’ or ‘Music for Radio, Film, TV and Multimedia’.  

Alan Caulfield
Faculty Coordinator Music