Great Scot December 2017 GreatScot_152_Dec_Online | Page 88

OSCA Clubs Past Parents and Friends Staying connected to the Scotch Family You send them off on the very first day in their shorts and white shirt – with a tie! They look so small. Suddenly you are thrown into a fabulous new life of sporting events, training, musical events, speech nights, parent-teacher interviews, Family Days, Foundation Day Concerts, and making your boys search through lost property for that lost shoe or brand new cricket uniform. You get into a routine and then – bang! It’s the last time you pay your school fees, it’s the last parent-teacher night, it’s the last Foundation Day Concert, the last time you make them clean their shoes for school. Suddenly you are a past parent – and if you were anything like me, it’s a lovely feeling for a short time. But as the new year comes around and your boy is no longer at Scotch, you start to think about all the fabulous connections you have made while being part of the Scotch Family. You loved the early morning coffees with the rowing parents or the huddling together in the cold and rain at the rugby matches – the long days in the sun watching the cricket or the wonderful exhibition of talent at the various musical events. Well, we can’t promise you a 5.30am coffee – but we can promise a lot of fun and catching up with old connections as part of Scotch’s new Past Parents’ and Friends’ Group. We, as a group, aim to keep the past parent network alive. You as past parents and friends are an extremely valuable asset to the school. You will stay connected to the school community wherever you are in the world and if in town, you’ll be able to attend school events and other functions should you wish. We also encourage your feedback and expertise. So – watch this space! Membership of this Past Parents’ and Friends’ Group is free and automatic once you become a past parent of Scotch College. For more information please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. GABRIELLE GOLDSMITH 88 Symphony Orchestra Bonjour, buongiorno, and hello from OSSO The Old Scotch Symphony Orchestra (OSSO), one of OSCA’s newest clubs, has been performing musical repertoire in its last few concerts which has taken audience members on a scintillating world tour through the lush English countryside, all the way to majestic Russian landscapes, before a meander in Paris with The French Connection. On 27 August, it performed the aptly named The Italian Job, presenting a delightfully crafted program of works either by Italian composers or inspired by Italian culture, and showcasing one of the jewels of the classical music repertoire: Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4 (‘Italian’). But at the time of writing OSSO audiences were in for yet another series of rapturous performances, through Christmas-themed collaboration with Concordis Chamber Choir, on Saturday 9 December at 7pm, and OSSO’s first 2018 concert planned for Sunday 25 March at 3pm, exploring musical gems of the new world. OSSO is always on the lookout for passionate musicians and volunteers – please contact the OSSO committee at [email protected] if you can help OSSO to achieve its vision of sharing fine music with the wider Scotch community. JASON HA (’12) – PRESIDENT, OLD SCOTCH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SAVE THE DATE Friday 18 May 2018 Scotch Family Golf Day The National Golf Club – Long Island The links between Scotch and Wesley go back a long way, and include the time during World War II when the schools shared Scotch’s facilities after the Army occupied Wesley’s campus. Scotch and Wesley have always maintained a good relationship and a friendly rivalry. We are extending an invitation to members of both school’s communities to participate in the 2018 Scotch Family Golf Day. More information will be provided early in 2018. Great Scot Number 152 – December 2017