Music Notes
Winter is not hibernation time for the musicians of De La Salle. On the contrary, both within and without the school grounds, our students have been delighting audiences with their musical talents, across an impressive range of genres, and instrumental and vocal combinations.
Most recently, 55 of our musicians — accompanied by six staff — completed a four-day performance tour of primary schools (and a retirement home) in the Murrindindi Shire (northeast of Melbourne), delivering concerts to delighted audiences in Eildon, Yea, Alexandra, Buxton and Marysville.
Our students not only showed great musical skill, but also superb teamwork, as they set up for seven concerts independently of teacher input.
Each student was entrusted with a clear role in the running of the events, while the Year 12 students showed leadership as concert comperes.
When not in concert mode, the students applied themselves in rehearsals and tutorial workshops, which immediately bore fruit in increasingly accurate and expressive performances.
Fine performances were delivered by all ensembles, which included the guitar ensemble, senior concert band, a combined orchestra and choir, string and woodwind ensemble, brass ensemble and stage band.
Looking to the future talent, we welcomed new performers at the Semester 1 Year 7 Bands Concert, whilst each of the Junior and Intermediate Concert Bands will represent the College in coming months at the Victorian School Music Festival. Our percussion and vocal students also participated in recent ACC Music workshops.
Another memorable recent event was the Autumn Concert, the first of two ensembles concerts for 2019. Performances of exciting and delightful music at this event were reprised in the semester-ending Arts Assembly, which brought the whole student and staff body together in celebration of artistic diversity at De La Salle. The next Winter Ensembles Concert will be held on Thursday 29 August in the PAC at 7:00pm. This concert will feature a sneak preview of an item from the 2020 senior musical, Typhoid Mary.
Underscoring the vitality of the Music Program, there has been a 21% increase in enrolments in the Instrumental Program from Semester 1 to 2, and this individual talent will be on display at the annual Instrumental Program Soirée, which will be held on Monday 9 September, at 7:00pm. There will be four concurrent concerts across the Tiverton campus, and also at Holy Eucharist. We hope to see you there!
Mr Luke Serrano
Music Coordinator