Great Scot September 2019 Great Scot 157_September 2019_ONLINE | Page 48

Music
A WIDE SPECTRUM
OF SCOTCH MUSIC
In preparation for the annual round of concerts, Choir Camp, with
almost 200 boys, segued neatly into the Autumn Concert season
where some 500 boys performed over two nights. The concerts
involved the Symphony Orchestra, the Intermediate Orchestra, two
string orchestras, four symphonic bands, three choirs, and four stage
(jazz) bands. Both concerts attracted full houses.
Our top two show bands made the annual trek to Mt Gambier for
the Generations in Jazz competition. The competition involves literally
thousands of performers, and gives everyone an opportunity to hear
some outstanding professionals as well as other school ensembles.
The orchestra’s Winter Concert opened with The Wasps Overture
by Vaughan Williams, followed by Lincoln Poon (Year 12) performing
Dvorak’s Cello Concerto. The second half comprised a performance
of César Franck’s D Minor Symphony. It was a challenging program
for the Symphony Orchestra in preparation for the tour to America
in January. A popular ‘tradition’ has developed, whereby the Winter
Concert is premiered to the residents of various senior citizens’
residences in the Scotch vicinity. The ladies and gentlemen are
brought in by volunteers, and they love it!
46
Great Scot Number 157 – September 2019
ABOVE: MAX FOSTER AND VATCHE
JAMBAZIAN TAKE A BOW AT THE PRO
MUSICA CONCERT. TOP LEFT: LINCOLN
POON PERFORMING AT THE WINTER
CONCERT. TOP RIGHT: CHOIR AT THE
WINTER CONCERT, BOTTOM LEFT:
BAROQUE ENSEMBLE, CHAMBER MUSIC
DINNER. BOTTOM RIGHT: SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA, WINTER CONCERT
One of the highlights of the music calendar is the annual Chamber
Music Dinner and Concert. This year it opened with a harp trio,
and, as well as the usual string quartets and piano trios, featured an
exceptional percussion ensemble, fresh from winning a national title at
the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod.
Scotch has an established history at the Australian Percussion
Eisteddfod, with our boys known for their collegial approach to all
competitors, humility in success and grace in defeat. While awards
are not the motivation for participation in this event, the boys’
achievements should nevertheless be acknowledged. Congratulations
to the drumline for being placed first in division B national drumline,
to Tapas ensemble for their second place in chamber ensemble (only
behind a hand-picked, non-school based group), and also to Adam
Pai (Year 10) for his honourable mention in the fiercely competitive
senior secondary marimba section.
In Term 3 there are three particularly large-scale concerts (aside
from the Foundation Day Concert). The Strings, Choirs and Bands
Concerts all involve boys from the Junior School through to Year 12,