13 .
14 . 15 .
13 . REHEARSAL AT CHOIR CAMP . 14 . SHARON HUNTER CONDUCTING THE CAMBIATA CHOIR AT CHOIR CAMP . 15 . ANDREW HUNTER CONDUCTING THE CHAMBER CHOIR AT CHOIR CAMP
As Earl Carlyss of the Juilliard and Peabody Conservatories wrote : ‘ Chamber music is a joy shared between equal partners who are working together to create a thing of perfection and beauty ’.
Term 3 also includes three large concerts – the Bands Concert , the Strings Concert and the Choirs Concert . These concerts also include performances from the Junior School boys , giving them the opportunity to see where their work will progress .
One particular highlight of the Strings Concert was the Academy Strings ’ performance of the bombastic Concerto Grosso by Ernest Bloch , featuring Jarek Zheng ( Year 9 ) on piano . The performance was conducted from the Concertmaster ’ s position by Kerry Chiu ( Year 12 ), who brilliantly took on the job at the last minute when Geoff Liu , our Music Captain and Orchestra Leader , fell ill . The Choral Concert included a notable performance of Sogno di Volare ( The Dream of Flight ) by Christopher Tin , with the Scotch College Choir and Chamber Orchestra , followed by a superb performance of Operator , featuring soloist Benji Scott ( Year 12 ) in the Cardinals . The finale was a performance of Stars from Les Misérables , featuring multiple soloists and the Chamber Choir .
The Bands Concert showcased a significant enhancement to its ensemble structure . The newly-formed ensembles were
designed to provide each student with a more challenging and tailored musical experience , while also ensuring a more balanced distribution of instruments across all groups . The Mason Band , McLaren Concert Band , and Donaldson Wind Ensemble were unveiled , each named after esteemed Scotch College leaders – former Junior School Head Guy Mason , former Vice Principal Rob McLaren (’ 73 ) and former Principal Dr Gordon Donaldson AM – to acknowledge their enduring support of music at Scotch . The new bands delivered exceptional performances and contributed to the resounding success of the concert .
Naturally , Term 3 concluded with the Foundation Day Concert – or ‘ The Big Gig ’, as we colloquially call it ! ( See a separate article about the concert in this edition – ‘ Uniting in song – a feature of the Foundation Day Concert ’.)
Terms 2 and 3 are massive for the boys and for the staff . I would like to express my thanks to all the young musicians , to my music colleagues , and particularly to my PA , Kathy Alsop , and to Emma Downing , both of whom go above and beyond what would be considered normal duties to make every concert a seamless success .
DR JOHN FERGUSON , DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AND MS ELAINE CHIN ( PIANO FESTIVAL SECTION )
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