Music
On Saturday 11 May, members of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and some members of the school choir performed as part of the Olympic Pathway School event. Our students had two rehearsals to prepare a processional, recessional plus the national anthem and school song. The “Pymble girl attitude” never ceases to amaze me – they always rise to the occasion. Under the direction of our Head of Bands, Mr Stafford, our Pymble musicians dazzled us with their brilliance, showing a level of camaraderie with our brilliant sportswomen. In any school, some of the busiest areas are Sport and the Performing Arts. Students are up early to train and rehearse, give up weekends to perform and compete, and no sooner have they finished one thing, they are on to the next. Thank you to our Pymble musicians and Mr Stafford!
Congratulations to all students participating in PAC. This week our Pymble Art students have had their works showcased in the Chapel and we will be deciding who will proceed to “Best of PAC”. This event will be held in week 5 during MBS time.
Year 8 Elective Music have been working tirelessly to prepare for their production of Finding Nemo Jnr. Working with these students is always a highlight for teachers. Sometimes the shyest student decides to “own the stage”, finding their special place in their world. I was reminiscing with a current Year 11 student about this and she revealed playing a role in Moana was what helped her continue to pursue her passion for the Performing Arts. I agree it’s not for everyone, but even those students who have not considered Performing Arts have found a place, made friends and enjoyed being part of a successful show. Well done to Ms Ashton and Mr Rossman in their preparation of the classes, and to our theatre staff for making the stage come alive under the sea.
In Week 2, our two chamber groups, Aurora and Andarta trios were invited to perform for, and be coached by, members of the Musica Viva Strike a Chord Competition. These students receive lots of feedback from professional musicians at Pymble and it’s always wonderful to have even more feedback from people who do not know the background stories. Being part of a small chamber group is harder than being a soloist, and harder than being in a large orchestra, band or choir. There is a balance of working together to learn each other’s nuances, being musical, but to also allow the music to speak for itself. Each student is an equal within the group, and not a soloist. We will be recording the students and submitting their entries to be judged externally and to participate in a competition open to all of Australia.
Performance Uniforms
After spending most of last year organising the lovely new uniforms for our students, it is so wonderful to see them on stage looking so elegant. Until…you look down at their shoes. I would like to see students wearing some elegant black shoes to go with their uniforms, rather than their school shoes.
Dates for your diary
| Ensemble Photos | All ensembles in the Senior School | Monday 3 June 2024 |
| Ensemble Photos | All ensembles in the Senior School | Tuesday 4 June 2024 |
| Ensemble Photos | All ensembles in the Senior School | Wednesday 5 June 2024 |
| Eisteddfod Week | Senior Music Ensembles to compete in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod | Monday 17 June to Friday 28 June 2024 |
| Secondary Schools Ensemble Concert | Senior School Ensembles perform | Tuesday 25 June 2024 |
| Year 12 Farewell Lunch | Music Support group provide lunch for Year 12 ensemble members | Thursday 27 June 2024 |
For singers
The Conservatorium of Music hosts an “Opera and Musical Theatre Lab” and it is open to all interested students. Pymble students perform as part of either an opera or a musical, after spending time with renowned singers and actors. Please go to the open academy to find out more.
Sarah Turner
Head of Co-curricular Music