Music

Music

Welcome back to Term 3 

I hope you all had a wonderful rest during the break and soaked up lots of Vitamin D. We were so lucky to have great weather, and I hope those who travelled, also had their share of sun. 

During the break, I reminded all students taking private music lessons at the College that participation in one of our many ensembles is essential to their music education.  

Pianists (who do not study another instrument) are especially encouraged to join the College Choir, which rehearses Wednesday mornings at 7.20am in the Chapel. Junior School Choir is on Tuesday mornings. With the School Musical scheduled for 2026, now is the perfect time to develop your singing skills and become involved in an exciting upcoming production. 

There is also the Music Tour happening at the end of 2027, where we tour Italy, Croatia and Slovenia for two weeks. Being part of the Music Tour in 2024 was a highlight for our recent Year 12 leavers, and I know many of the younger girls who went also found it to be a brilliant experience. 

Take this opportunity to connect, grow and make music together. We will be providing more details of this tour towards the end of Term 3 and early in Term 4. It is a long way away, but we want to ensure all musicians are given the opportunity to perform on the world stage and preparation is key. 

Dates for your Diaries 

  • Thursday 14 August 4.40pm to 5.00pm – Open Evening in the KM building. Clarinet ensemble to perform 
  • Tuesday 19 August 8.55am and then 10.15am – Junior School Open Morning in Sunshine Square. Junior Choir to perform at 8.55am and Stanhope Band to perform at 10.15am 
  • Tuesday 19 August 4.30pm – Emily Palethorpe’s Cello Studio Concert in the Music Gallery 
  • Wednesday 20 August 6.30pm to 7.00pm – Think Pymble event in the KM building: Year 7 string quartet to perform 
  • Thursday 21 August 6.00pm – Music Scholar’s Concert in the Music Gallery – please see poster. This is a free event, but we would like tickets to be reserved. Allie Osborne from Sydney Symphony Orchestra will perform and provide a discussion for students interested in pursuing a career in Music. 
  • Friday 22 August 6.00pm – Tanith Bryce’s Vocal Studio Concert at Roden Cutler House in Gordon. Permission notes sent and must be returned please. 
  • Friday 5 September 5.00pm – HSC Music Recital evening. Please come along and watch our HSC musicians perform their repertoire in preparation for their final exams. 
  • Saturday 13 September from 1.00pm – Battle of the Bands – Barker College. This event is for the girls in the Rock Bands and part of the Barker Spring Fair. 
  • Saturday 20 September all day – Garden Party – Clarinet, flute and brass ensembles, Pizzicato strings, Piccoline choir, Junior Jazz, Jazz Ensemble, Stage Band, Year 4 Training band, Rock Bands, Grainger Band and Stanhope Band will perform at this event and permission will be sent out shortly. 
  • Tuesday 23 September 5.00pm – Music Elective Night in the Music Gallery – all girls from Years 8 to 11 who study Music will perform an item for family and friends. 
  • Friday 26 September – Year 12 Valedictory Dinner – Randwick Racecourse. College Quartet to perform. 

Congratulations 

Competitions 

  • Audrey Quan (Year 7) won the Under 15 Baritone and Euphonium section on Sunday June 29 at Barker College and also played in the Champion of Championship event afterwards. 
  • Constance Chow (Year 9) placed first in the City of Ryde Eisteddfod group Junior Vocal 14 and Under. 
  • Joy Yin (Year 10) won first prize in the Sydney Eisteddfod for 18th century Piano (15 and 16 Years) 
  • Scarlett Qui (Year 6) won first prize in the Sydney Eisteddfod piano solo for the 19th Century (11 years) section and Highly Commended in the 18th Century (11 to 12 years) section. 
  • Isabel Fan (Year 8) won first prize in the Sydney Eisteddfod for the 20th and 21st Century Piano section (13 to 14 years)  

Professional Performances 

Jessamy Facer (Year 8) recently opened in Opera Australia’s production of Carmen. Mr Schweinberger, Ms Zeltzer and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, but it was made all the more exciting by knowing someone on the stage. We all had the pleasure of meeting leading lady, Danielle de Niese, who is delightful and so full of praise for Jessamy and her dedication from such a young age. 

String Quartet 

One of the College String Quartets performed for the Avondale Golf Club’s Ladies’ evening on Wednesday 23 July. Thank you to Mrs Colbey and Ms Bain for preparing the girls: Sophie Guo (Year 10), Charli Conn (Year 9), Camellia Zhou (Year 10) and Jenny He (Year 10). The Events and Marketing Manager wrote to me with the following accolade:  

On behalf of the Women’s Committee and all of our attendees last night, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the brilliant students who performed. 

They are incredibly talented, and our Members thoroughly enjoyed being welcomed to the event with the beautiful sounds of the string quartet. It truly set the tone for a special evening and was greatly appreciated by all. 

AMEB results 

Some AMEB results came through late last term, and I would like to congratulate the following girls on their violin results 

  • Michelle Shi (Year 8) – A Honours Grade 7 Comprehensive 
  • Mikayla Sun (Year 8) – A Honours Grade 7 Comprehensive 
  • Sooin Lee (Year 6) – A Honours Grade 7 Comprehensive 
  • Charli Conn (Year 9) – A+ High Distinction Certificate of Performance 

Absences for Ensembles 

Parents must go through MyPymble and indicate if their daughter is going to be absent for a rehearsal. Students are encouraged to email their conductor, with a parent copied in, to explain their absence. Unexplained absences will be noted along with tardiness. Members of the auditioned ensembles will be contacted if they have two unexplained absences, putting their position in jeopardy. Please help the Music department by completing the absence notification on MyPymble. 

Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) Auditions 

We have had students play with the AYO in the past and this is a wonderful pathway for young people wishing to pursue a career in Music. If you are interested, please contact Mrs Turner at sturner@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au so I can share further details. 

Applications are now open for the Australian Youth Orchestra’s 2026 programs, offering life-changing musical experiences for young people aged 12 to 30. From school-aged musicians to emerging professionals, AYO provides world-class training in orchestral performance, composition, sound production, arts administration, and music journalism. 

Strings applications close on Monday 25 August 2025, and all other instrument applications close on Wednesday 27 August 2025. Apply online by clicking here.