Music Matters

2021 Music Ensemble: sign-up at the Co-Curricular and Music Expo – Wednesday 3 February                           

If you are keen to join an ensemble so you can exercise your musical talents, the Music Department would love to see you at the Co-curricular and Music Expo on Wednesday 3 February at lunchtime in the Sports Hall.

This year our sign-up process for NEW members will take place as part of the school’s Co-curricular Expo.  Come and see the ensembles we have on offer and meet our ensemble directors (Choral, Band, String), the 2021 Music Captain Stella Gray and Music leaders. For a full list of the school’s music ensembles, please consult page 34 & 35 of the school diary.

Students who were involved in an ensemble last year will be automatically included in this year’s roll.  If you want to start something NEW then you will need to come and sign up.

When? Wednesday 3 February 1:00pm

Where? Sports Hall

Who should come? Anyone NEW to SCEGGS or those would like to join a music ensemble.

We look forward to seeing YOU there!

2020 HSC NESA Encore Nominations

Congratulations to the following students who have received a NESA Encore Nomination in the following:

• Uma Volkmer – Music 2 (Composition)
• Bonnie Harrington – Music 1 (Performance)
• Annabelle Martin – Music 1 (Musicology)

2020 was a challenging year for our Year 12 students and we are incredibly proud of all of our students’ achievements in both Music courses.  While our students were not in the final selection for the ENCORE concert program, the nomination themselves is an incredible honour and a testament to their hard work.

I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and contribution from the Music staff with their contribution to the learning journey of our Music students in 2020.

2020 Year 12 Valedictory Dinner Performance and Old Girls Function

Congratulations to the following students who performed in the foyer of Dalton House for the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner:

• Alice Wong (Year 12) – Violin 1
• Ella Hackman (Year 11) – Violin 2
• Renee Ayoub (Year 10) – Violin 3
• Scarlett Pearce (Year 11) – Cello

The string ensemble’s performance was a lovely way for the Year 12 students and their families to be greeted as they arrived for the dinner.  A special thank you to Mrs Anne Sweeney who organised the performance and played with the students in the Viola chair.  Thank you and well done girls for your performance!

On 10 December, an Old Girls Function took place at the home of Mr and Mrs Paul Espie.  Special thank you to Ilaria Roncolato (Year 9) who performed a repertoire of solo Harp pieces for the event.  The music was much enjoyed and it’s lovely to hear a harp featured in such a special way.  Well done Ilaria!

2020 Australian School Band And Orchestra Festival

Congratulations to the five SCEGGS string ensembles that participated in the Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival in Term 4. Each ensemble performed a diverse program which included an Australian work and the performances were recorded and beautifully presented by Eddi Goodfellow for the online Festival. All musicians involved, from K-12, worked diligently in weekly rehearsals with Mrs Sweeney and in lessons with their instrumental tutor to perfect their program and should be congratulated for their efforts. It was a wonderful celebration of teamwork and the power of music to maintain connection in the challenging year that was 2020.

Thank you to Mrs Anne Sweeney for her preparation of the students for this event.  Well done, girls!

The results are in:

Music Tuition

Peripatetic music lessons will resume in Week 2. Please contact your tutor if you have not heard from them this year.

A reminder that most students will be allocated a rotating lesson time, within the confines of each tutor’s load. Out-of-class lesson times are given to Senior Elective Music students.

In preparation for the upcoming SCEGGS Eisteddfod (more information to follow) the Music Department will be holding a practice-a-thon in Weeks 2-6.

Practice trackers will be available from music tutors and classroom music teachers. Use the tracker to monitor your daily practice. We are aiming to see how long our best practice streak is. Earn a Bronze award for a 7-day streak, a Silver award for a 14 day streak, a Gold award for a 21 day streak and a Platinum award for a 28+ day streak. The awards will be distributed along with your Eisteddfod award.  

If you wish to learn an instrument or voice, please contact HeidiJones@sceggs.nsw.edu.au. We have vacancies in most studios at present.

Ms Heidi Jones
Accompanist & Performance Coach

Secondary Music Ensemble Rehearsals

Rehearsals for your ensembles commence in Week 3. Students who are taking Music as an elective study MUST participate in at least one Music Ensemble. If for whatever reason you cannot attend your rehearsal, please do the courtesy of letting your conductor or Mr Jewitt know ahead of the rehearsal.

Pauline Chow
Head of Music