Great Scot - The Scotch Family Magazine - Issue 151 September 2017 GreatScot_Internal_Sept_2017_FA | Page 46

Senior School Music Many events and impressive performances For our musicians, the year started with the various sections of the department cranking up and getting into gear for another fulfilling season of lessons, recitals, concerts and trips. Within a week or so 50 ensembles were timetabled, along with the 1000 lessons taught each week by some 84 staff. There is always a feeling of excitement among the musicians (staff and boys) as the new ensembles come together and the music starts to flow. The first major event of the year was the inaugural Festival of Brass. Mr Chris Farrands devised an exceptional festival that involved the brass department from Melbourne University, principals from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and some great performances from staff and students. The festival culminated in a performance of Nigel Westlake’s The Glass Soldier, for brass ensemble, chamber choir and narrator. Derek Guille, former ABC presenter, narrated the moving account of a World War I soldier from a Ballarat stained glass factory who lost his sight in battle, only to have it restored in the 1960s, enabling 44 him once again to see his work in churches and cathedrals across Australia. The Choir Camp involved almost 200 boys, and was one of the most successful ever, as we rehearsed in the beautiful autumnal setting of Rutherford Park, near Daylesford. This is an important camp leading into the Autumn Season, and the choir, conducted by Mr Andrew Hunter, delighted the audience at the Autumn Season concert a week or so later. Other delights in the Autumn Season included John Athan’s (Year 11) dazzling performance of Arutunian’s trumpet concerto. The Autumn Season features all 15 large ensembles over two nights, involving more than 500 boys, and it is always sold out. Three long trips occurred during the first half of the year. The first was by the senior jazz ensembles to the annual Generations in Jazz competition at Mount Gambier. The Show Band, under Ms Megan Philip’s direction, won division two, competing against some thousands of students – a notable achievement. Our percussionists, led by Miss Jude Hallum, competed in the National Percussion Eisteddfod in Sydney, and the pipers went to Scotland as usual. The Winter Concert, the Symphony Orchestra’s annual complete concert, was particularly impressive this year. Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (with notable solos from Yuki Goh (Year 10), harp, Tian Tian Lan (Year 12), violin, and Philipp Eversheim (Year 12), flute, was followed by Prokofiev’s third piano concerto, brilliantly performed by Edward Buckland (Year 12). The second half comprised an impressive performance of Tchaikovsky’s mighty fourth symphony. The horns opened the first movement with great authority and precision. The second movement featured beautiful playing from the principal oboe, Isaac Zhao (Year 10), as well as some exceptional playing from principal bassoon, Angus McRae (Year 12). The last movement was a triumph – and resulted in that great rarity at Scotch, a standing ovation! JOHN FERGUSON – DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Great Scot Number 151 – September 2017