Phil Beverley, Director of Music

Embarking on a musical journey through Eastern Europe, the combined talents of St. Catherine’s and Cranbrook School created a harmonious blend of culture, tradition, and musical excellence. From enchanting performances in historic venues to exploring age old cultures and the magic of a winter Christmas market, over a hundred students reveled in the delights on offer and represented our schools with distinction.

The sheer scale of a tour group that required two separate planes, three coaches with trailers and multiple hotels in each city was an exhilarating yet somewhat daunting way to end the year. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Hayes Travel for their incredible work in ensuring the success of the trip for everyone. Our tour kicked off with a mesmerising performance at the renowned St. Nicholas Church in Prague. This baroque masterpiece provided a stunning backdrop for the musicians, as they captivated the audience in this awe-inspiring space. The acoustics of the church enhanced every note, creating a magical atmosphere that resonated with the rich history of the city.

We ventured north to a small rural town called Chlumec (population 5000) where we performed to an audience of over 200 and joined in concert with their local award-winning choir.

Moving further south to Southern Moravia, the tour reached the charming town of Hodonin, where St. Lawrence Church became the setting for another memorable performance. Just prior to the performance another small-town Christmas market with a preset stage saw many of our senior students perform Christmas repertoire.

A quick stop for some ballet in Bratislava to see The Nutcracker, performed in the Slovak National Theatre, then onto Hungary where we made Budapest our home for a few nights. This incredible city gave the ensembles an opportunity to work with Reka Csernyik and Margit Szlobmayer as well as the students from Patrona Hungaria School for Girls and Piarista School for Boys. In these workshops we were excited to share our indigenous songs as they shared some of their traditional folk music with us then perform later that evening.

Onto Croatia to embrace a passionate peoples love of the arts. The strings and wind ensembles were very fortunate to have the opportunity to workshop their pieces with Davor Kelić in preparation for our final concert at Lisinski Hall in Zagreb, Croatia. The impressive architecture and modern facilities of the hall provided a fitting stage for the culmination of the tour. The combined talents of St. Catherine’s and Cranbrook School took centre stage, delivering a powerful and emotional performance that left a lasting impression on both the performers and the audience.

The St. Catherine’s and Cranbrook School music tour to Eastern Europe was not merely a series of performances; it was a celebration of cultural exchange. I’m so immensely proud of each the musician who showcased the universal language of music and added to the rich tapestry of life.

Welcome to the start of another year. The Music Department is excited for the events that are ahead this year. A warm welcome to our Year 7 parents who have joined the Cranbrook family. It is my hope that the information below helps ease the transition into high school for both your son and your family.

Curriculum classes

The next week will see some changes to the classes for our Year 7 and 8s although all students study the same content, we design the classes to group ‘like-instruments’ where possible. This helps us support students at their level and allows us to place teachers with the best skill set to solve musical problems together with the students.

Beyond the classroom

Instrumental lessons and ensemble performance is the biggest optional co-curricular activity at Cranbrook. We are immensely proud of the music our students produce across are range of musical opportunities. If you are new to the School and thinking about getting involved, please reach out to music@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au so we can point you in the right direction. Students who wish to find out more simply need to come to the Music Department and speak to one of our staff. Brook day will also be another opportunity for new students to speak with older students involved in the programme whether it be, Choirs, Bands, String ensembles or Rock Bands.

Performance Plus

Underpinning all the excellent work happening in the classroom and co-curricular music space is the Performance Plus programme. Students enrolled in instrumental lessons are encouraged to attend our termly masterclass series and participate in the regular concert practices and soirees that are set up throughout the year. This programme provides a pathway for any student to develop their solo performance skills and encourages a culture of improvement while building their confidence and self-discipline. Skills that are definitely transferrable to all aspects of life. Click here for more info regarding Performance Plus.

Co-curricular schedules online

Clipboard has all your co-curricular information you need in one place. This is available via the Cranbrook App. Click here for more information on how to access this app.

Students can access clipboard directly by going to portal.clipboard.app/Cranbrook and using their single sign on they can view all cocurricular times for the comings weeks. For music this includes all ensembles and instrumental lessons.

Key Dates for Music Term 1

FEB	5	WK 2B	M	Instrumental Lessons commence Performance Plus Keynote 7-12 (3:30pm – 5pm) with Sarah Marshall Orchestra Room JS Ensembles Commences
MAR	6	WK 6B	W	Instrumental Soirée (6:30pm – 8:00pm) Orchestra Room
MAR	12	WK 7A	T	Scholars’ Recital, Chapel, Drinks at 6pm Concert (6:30 pm – 9pm)
MAR	19	WK 8B	T	Performance Plus Workshop/Masterclass – Perkins Building (3:30pm – 5pm)
MAR	25	WK 9A	M	Cranbrook Easter Concert Rehearsal 3:30pm-8pm
MAR	26	WK 9A	T	Easter Concert Rehearsal Easter Concert

Phil Beverley
Director of Music