Music Matters

Music Week Concert featuring ‘Legendary Jazz singer’ Emma Pask – Term 3 Week 2

We are pleased to announce that Emma Pask, Australia’s legendary Jazz singer will be joining us in our Music Week concert next term.  Emma was spotted by renowned Australian Jazz great James Morrison to join his band as lead vocalist.  She was only 16 years old at the time!  She then toured with James Morrison and his big band around the world for 20 years.  Some of Emma’s performance highlights have included performing at the wedding of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, singing for the late Diana Princess of Wales and Princess Mary of Denmark.  Emma is also the ‘Mo’ award winner for Jazz Vocalist of the year.  She has also received Aria nominations for Best Jazz Album of the Year in 2014 and 2016.  Emma has also opened for the Grammy award winning American vocalist Kurt Elling on his 2018 Australian tour.  During the 2020 COVID-lockdown, Emma was also chosen by The Sydney Opera House to launch the first of their live streamed concerts.

Emma and her musical director Mr Kevin Hunt will be coming to SCEGGS from Tuesday of Week 2 of Term 3 to workshop scat techniques with our Elective Music classes.  She will also be coming to workshop with some of the featured ensembles who are performing in this special Music Week concert. 

To secure your seats to this free concert – please use the TryBooking link here. We look forward to sharing a very special evening of Jazz with you next term.

SCEGGS 2023 Inter-House Music Competition – Friday 23 June

As the term is counting down to the final two weeks, the preparation for the Inter-House Music Competition is at an all time high!  This year’s theme for the competition is Songs that Changed the World.  Each House has been extremely creative with their interpretation of the theme, and we look forward to seeing the hard work of each House coming to fruition.

City of Sydney Eisteddfod: Bugles, Clarion and Holst Wind Band

Congratulations to the Primary students of Bugles band and the secondary students of Clarion and Holst Wind Bands.  Last week, the students from these ensembles took place in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod in Chatswood’s Concourse.  Bugles performed in their section on Tuesday 6 June, while the two secondary bands performed on Wednesday 7 June.  The results for the competition are as follows:

• Bugles – 2^nd Place
• Clarion – 2^nd Place
• Holst Wind Band – Highly commended

We are extremely proud of our students’ achievement in their section of the Eisteddfod.  It was an excellent performance opportunity for each ensemble.  A special thank you to Mr Michael Tierney (Director of Bands) and to Ms Alison Ryan (Conductor of Clarion band) with their preparation and direction of their respective ensembles.  Well done to every student who has worked hard for the preparation of these events!

Pauline Chow
Head of Music

Beatboxing Workshop

On Monday 5 June, the Music Department took part in Beatboxing workshops. Students from Years 3-6, and the Senior Choir all learnt from Connor Malanos, a professional beatboxer who taught us to use our voices to create amazing sounds and rhythmic patterns.

We were able to become our own drumkit, using the consonants B, P, T and F to emulate the bass drum, snare and high-hat and keep the beat all together.

Connor has an incredible talent, and he made unusual and unexpected sounds like a cricket chirping, bird calls and even the sound of a finger tapping the keys on the phone and the ‘sent message’ whoosh!

All the year groups were most engaged as he asked us to listen to the sound around us and recreate them using only our mouths. 

Beatboxing requires lots of practice and skill to perfect, and we are implementing what he taught us in music classes to create soundscapes that tell a story of the world around us.

Lanneke Jones
Primary Music Teacher

Upcoming Music Events

Term 2

Term 3