Great Scot September 2019 Great Scot 157_September 2019_ONLINE | Page 49

and give the younger boys an opportunity to see where their musical
journey leads. The Bands Concert this year involved some 350 boys.
Two other concerts are worthy of mention. One was the Old
Scotch Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Mahler’s Symphony
No 1, the Titan. The performance sparked a well-deserved standing
ovation – a rarity at Scotch! The other concert was an initiative by
Adam Pai of Year 10. He organised an orchestra of 60 musicians
(boys and girls) through friends and social media from five different
schools. The program included Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto (with
soloist Leon Fei, Year 9), Mozart’s Double Piano Concerto and The
Merry Wives of Windsor overture, all conducted by Yuki Goh (Year 12).
Yuki is a prominent member of the Maestro Club (a conducting class
which I lead every Tuesday). The concert, on 24 August, raised more
than $2000 for the Skyline Foundation, an education charity.
A very special concert took place on 20 July. Pro Musica, our
orchestra that comprises staff, other professional musicians and
advanced students, performed the Poulenc Double Piano Concerto
with soloists Max Foster (‘09) and Vatche Jambazian. Max won the
ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year Award in 2008,
and, on leaving Scotch, won a scholarship to the Juilliard School in
New York. He is now completing his doctorate in America, but was
on tour in Australia with Vatche during July. The concert also featured
our senior trumpet teacher, David Musk, in partnership with our oboe
teacher, Anne Gilby, in a performance of Copland’s Quiet City.
ScotchArts, our professional concert series, has continued, with
two wonderful concerts. Wilma Smith, former Concertmaster with the
MSO and our Chamber Music Artist-in-Residence presented Wilma
and Friends concerts of superb and eclectic chamber music.
An unusual accolade goes to Geoff Liu (Year 7). Following
early rounds in Melbourne, where he came third in an international
competition, he was invited by the American Protégé Committee
to perform in Carnegie Hall as part of a Winners’ Recital. What an
unforgettable experience, and honour.
JOHN FERGUSON — DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
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