Primary & Secondary Music

Musicale 3 at Festival on Forbes

This year’s Musicale 3 will be held at Festival on Forbes on Sunday 25 August. Every Primary and Secondary Music Ensemble will perform throughout the day on one of three separate stages.

Performers should plan to arrive at the meeting place 15 minutes before their performance. Performance times are listed below.

Please be aware that there is no access to the DB Centre or Primary Music Room on Sunday, so all students need to take their instruments home on Friday afternoon.

2025 International Music Tour

Thank you to all the students and parents who attended the tour meeting last night. Follow-up information will be sent to all secondary instrumentalists and vocalists.

Any questions, please contact Mr. David Gresham.

Theory Lessons for Secondary Students – Friday lunchtime in DB2

The SCEGGS Music Department will be starting free music theory lessons during Friday lunch in DB2. These are to prepare students for AMEB theory and/or musicianship exams. While the lessons are free, there will be a cost involved in the purchase of theory books and registration for exams. Mr. Gresham will contact parents with recommendations for grade levels before any purchases are made. Please contact Mr. David Gresham if you have any questions.

Contemporary Strings Soirees

Thursday 12 September 1.10-1.40pm in DB1 & Thursday 19 September 1.10-1.40pm in DB1

All string players in Contemporary Strings are invited to perform a short solo at one of two lunchtime concerts being held this term. Performances of this nature, in front of a supportive and appreciative audience are vital for a musician’s development and all players are encouraged to perform and support their friends. Mrs Sweeney will be organising the solo concert programs during Contemporary Strings rehearsals over the coming weeks. Please discuss with your instrument tutor a short solo piece that might be suitable to perform. Girls are also very welcome to perform a duet with a friend! Piano accompaniment will be provided at both concerts.

Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival – Sunday, 15 September

Several SCEGGS ensembles will perform at the Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival this year. The Festival is a non-competitive event where ensembles receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating based on their performance. This is a wonderful opportunity for our SCEGGS ensembles to perform on stage, hear other school ensembles, and receive valuable feedback from professional adjudicators. Please find more information here.

Please see the table below for details of the events occurring on Sunday 15 September

Gracie Dunlop, Year 10 Amati Strings, Lux Strings, Choir, Madrigal Ensemble, Glennie Percussion Ensemble

A couple of weekends ago (10-12 August), I had the immense privilege of witnessing one of the world’s finest musicians and arguably the greatest living string player, Maxim Vengerov. On Saturday August 10, Vengerov delivered a flawless performance at the Sydney Opera House, captivating the audience with Prokofiev’s 5 Melodies, Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata No.1, Franck’s Violin Sonata, and Ravel’s Tzigane. Accompanied by the brilliant pianist Polina Osetinskaya, the duo performed with remarkable emotion, elegance, and power, underpinned by impeccable technical mastery. Being part of Vengerov’s audience at such an iconic venue is an opportunity I will never pass up. The performance was breathtaking, and so was he. Every movement he made radiated pure emotion. As a member of the audience, I was completely entranced by his exceptional talent, and I am certain everyone else felt the same.

If you thought that was enough Vengerov for one weekend, you would be mistaken. On Monday August 12, I found myself reliving the memories of the previous days, this time at his masterclass. After leaving school, driving into the city, and entering Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music, I was already in awe of what was to come. My mum and I took our seats in the hall, and at 4.00pm, Vengerov took the stage, followed by five students from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music—four from the university and one from the Conservatorium High School. Each student performed their pieces and then received approximately 25-minute one-on-one lessons with Maxim Vengerov.

I learned so much from Vengerov, from how to stand correctly while playing the violin to how to hold the violin and bow to produce the best sound. He demonstrated the proper use of vibrato and how to utilize the bow effectively. However, what truly captivated me beyond the technicalities was his emphasis on understanding the meaning of the piece being played and how to fully express its raw emotion. Vengerov encouraged the students to imagine themselves in different scenarios or places, allowing them to connect more deeply with the music. It was a spectacular and inspiring experience that left me in awe. The insights and teachings I gained from watching and listening to Maxim Vengerov have already enhanced my violin playing, and I will treasure this knowledge deeply.

This weekend was one of the most memorable of my life. To learn from the best violinist in the world is a privilege few can claim, and I am immensely grateful to be one of them. I must extend my deepest thanks to Vengerov for coming to Sydney and sharing his extraordinary talent, and to my mum, whose unwavering support made these opportunities possible. Both Vengerov and my mum continue to inspire me greatly.

Gracie Dunlop (Year 10)

Beyond the Green Gate

We love hearing about ways our musicians are involved in music-making outside of school. Please send details to Heidi Jones.

Clipboard

All co-curricular music ensemble schedules are now available on Clipboard. If you haven’t set this up yet, please follow the provided instructions. For any issues with Clipboard set-up, contact our Music Administration Assistant Miss Alice Kotowicz.

Upcoming Events:

Term 3

Heidi Jones
Head of Music (Co-curricular)