Phil Beverley, Director of Music
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Spring Festival is Coming
Congratulations, Cranbrook students! A new record has been set again, with 250 enrolments for the Spring Festival. Scheduling is now underway, and nine venues have been secured to host performances on 29 August. More information will be shared soon, but in the meantime, please support your child’s practice — and remember: “Only practice on days that you eat.”
Performance Plus (HSC Focus)
As we prepare for the Spring Festival, AMEB examinations, and important performance assessments, it’s essential to consider presentation. This encompasses many aspects of stagecraft — from how we engage with our piano accompanists and connect with our audience, to how we walk on and off stage and carry ourselves during a performance.
How do we tell a compelling musical story?
How do we find that X-factor?
Congratulations to the year 12 students who presented to Karent Carey OAM and workshopped their pieces in preparation for their upcoming examinations
Australian Music Day
Earlier this week, our Year 10 and 11 elective Music students travelled to Australian Music Day at MLC Burwood. Head of Composition Alice Chance curated an outstanding program of workshops and practical experiences for students to immerse themselves in.
From diving into the world of film music with Cassie To, exploring the full potential of strings with Emma Greenhill, discussing the intricacies of songwriting and the music business with Josh Pyke, to collaborating with Ensemble Offspring, Paul Stanhope, and Jack Symonds, students gained valuable insights into the creative minds shaping contemporary Australian music. Our students actively and proudly shared their ideas as we collectively explored the art of creativity through music.
A lecturer of mine once shared a little secret about musical preparation. She leaned in and said: “Do the work.” It sounds simple — and it is. There’s no shortcut to excellence beyond committing to the process of continuous improvement. Both Performance Plus and Australian Music Day have served as powerful sources of inspiration for many of our students, who are now preparing to present at several upcoming music events this term.
Warm Regards,
Phillip Beverley
Director of Music
Upcoming events for the calendar
| Date | Week | Day | Events | |
| August | 18 | WK 5B | Mon | SS Combined Guitar Soiree – Rehearsal (3:30pm -5:30pm) Ascham Packer Theatre. Performance (6-8:30pm) |
| August | 21 | WK 5B | Thurs | 1st AMEB Piano Rehearsals Yr 7-12 All day |
| August | 22 | WK 5B | Fri | 1st AMEB Piano Rehearsal Yr 7-12 All day |
| August | 25 | WK 6A | Mon | Senior Composition recording day and Showcase (6:30pm-8:00pm) Orchestra Room |
| August | 27 | WK 6A | Wed | Year 12 Performance Showcase (6:30pm-8:30pm) |
| August | 28 | WK 6A | Thurs | JS Spring Festival Music Eisteddfod – Performances (1:00pm-5:00pm) |
| August | 29 | WK 6A | Fri | Spring Festival Solo Music Competition Performances (2:30pm-6:00pm) |
| September | 4 | WK 7B | Thurs | AMEB 2nd Piano Rehearsals Yr 7-12 (8:00am-4:00pm) |
| September | 5 | WK 7B | Fri | AMEB 2nd Piano Rehearsals Yr 7-12 (8:00am-4:00pm) |
| September | 8 | WK 8B | Mon | AMEB Examinations (8:00am-4:00pm) |
| September | 11 | WK 8A | Thurs | AMEB Examinations (8:00am-4:00pm) |
| September | 12 | WK 8A | Fri | AMEB Examinations (8:00am-4:00pm) |
| September | 13 | WK 8A | Sat | AMEB Examinations (8:00am-4:00pm) |
| September | 16 | WK 9B | Tues | Spring Festival Finals (6:30pm – 9:00pm) Orchestra Room |