Great Scot September 2018 Gt Scot_154_September_online | Page 51

AUTUMN CONCERT. ANDREW HUNTER CONDUCTING THE CHAMBER CHOIR
the Tuesday Swing Band – a total of some 300 boys. The following evening
featured the more senior ensembles.
The concert opened with the first movement of Rachmaninov’s
iconic Piano Concerto No 2, played beautifully and authoritatively by
Jonathan Zhang, L Mus A (Year 12), ably accompanied by the Symphony
Orchestra. The orchestra continued the concert with the final movement of
Tchaikovsky’s mighty 5th Symphony. Polished performances followed from
the Academy Strings, the Symphonic Wind, Stage Band and the choirs.
Notable solos with the Show Band featured Zayne Paspaliaris (Year
12 — guitar), Alex Paterson and Nathan Ward (both Year 11— saxophones),
and Jack Maughan (Year 12 — vibraphone). Some beautiful instrumental
accompaniment for the choir came from Jason Hu (Year 12 — flute), Isaac
Zhao A Mus A (Year 11 — oboe), Ethan Flemming (Year 12 — bass) and
Harrison Torode (Year 12 — drums). Vocal soloists with the Chamber Choir
were Oscar Ng and Alex Law (both Year 11), who sang solos beautifully in
the classic shanty, Shenandoah.
A matter of weeks later, the Symphony Orchestra presented its annual
Winter Concert. The concert opened with a fiery and rumbustious Spanish
piece that we encountered in Barcelona in January: La Boda de Luis Alonso
by Giménez. Isaac Zhao then performed Bellini’s beautiful lyrical Oboe
Concerto with great sensitivity and a sure technique. The first half of the
concert concluded with the first movement of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No
2 in F minor, performed superbly with great dexterity and fluidity by Richard
Liu, L Mus A (distinction) (Year 9). It is a demanding work, notoriously difficult
for the pianist (and not easy for the conductor either – I might add!).
The second half comprised a complete performance of Dvorak’s great
Symphony No 9, From the New World. There were some truly magnificent
moments from members of the orchestra, and while it is perhaps
dangerous to single out individuals, Jay Dingle’s (Year 10) cor anglais solo in
the second movement was sublime. Nicholas Yu (Year 12) also deserves a
special mention for his sure-footed performance of the famously difficult first
horn part. The whole horn section played particularly well that night, as did
the woodwind.
The biennial Piano Festival opened Term 3. Teresa Lavers, Head of
Keyboard Studies, planned the festival superbly, and was aided in the
organisation by the piano staff, particularly Elaine Chin, as well as the office
staff. The opening concert began with the Pro Musica orchestra, led by
Wilma Smith (and conducted by me) performing Mendelssohn’s overture,
The Hebrides. There followed three piano concertos. Guest pianist, Yasmin
Rowe, performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A, K414, Tristan Hocking-
Brown A Mus A (Year 12) performed the second movement of Grieg’s
Piano Concerto, and this wonderful evening concluded with a most exciting
performance of Mozart’s joyful concerto for two pianos K365, played by
Teresa Lavers and Lachlan Redd.
The featured guest artist this year was the brilliant young concert
pianist, Jayson Gillham, whose recent performances of Beethoven’s 3rd
Piano Concerto with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra have delighted
Melbourne’s concertgoers. His solo recital at Scotch was particularly
memorable. 
The festival lasted a week. It featured guest lectures for
teachers that ranged from teaching children with autism (delivered by
Daphne Proietto) to teaching improvisation, given by Daniel Zisin. There
were recitals by staff and students, a lieder recital given by Michael
Smallwood (tenor) and Eidit Golder (piano). The festival concluded with
the competition. Three Scotch boys reached the finals; Yuki Goh (Year 11),
Richard Liu and Samuel Zong (Year 10). All three boys played superbly, with
Richard and Samuel gaining places. Samuel’s performance of Schubert’s
Wanderer Fantasy – a most complex work lasting more than 20 minutes –
displayed musical depth and maturity well beyond his years.
I would like to thank the boys and their parents for their commitment to
the musical firmament at Scotch, and I would also like to thank the staff and
office staff, Kathy Alsop and Karin Taeubner, for their immense dedication.
JOHN FERGUSON — DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
51