Music Matters

SCEGGS Eisteddfod – Heats Timetables                                                          

Next week (Week 7) will be the commencement of our SCEGGS Eisteddfod Heats.

Primary students and family

An email with your eisteddfod heats time has been sent to each family.  Copies of the timetable are also available in the Primary Music room and studios for reference.  If you have not received the email, could you please contact Ms Stephanie Holmes in the Music Department: stephanieholmes@sceggs.nsw.edu.au

Secondary students

Secondary students have been sent a copy of the timetable. They can also access the date and time of their eisteddfod heats through Cognito and the timetables that are posted around the Music Centre.

It is important for ALL participants to remember their instruments and music for their eisteddfod heats.  There are limited times available for students who miss their heats.

Practice-a-thon

It is time for students who have participated in the Practice-a-thon to return their “Practice Trackers” to Primary Music room or to the Music Office in the Diana Bowman Centre.  Certificates will be presented to students at the conclusion of the eisteddfod period.

Amati Strings Assembly Performance

Congratulations to members of Amati Strings featuring Lara Greenfield on drum kit. The ensemble performed Brandenburg an arrangement by the classically trained Hip Hop duo, “Black Violin”.  The theme for this arrangement is based on J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.  Bach originally composed six of these Brandenburg Concertos, with the view of receiving work from the Elector of Brandenburg. Well done Amati Strings and thank you to Mrs Anne Sweeney for her direction.

Primary Musicals for 2021

We are pleased to announce that this year the Primary School musicals will take a slightly different format…They do say a change is as good as a rest!

Late in Term 2, we will present the very first Stage 3 combined Musical. This will give girls in Years 5 and 6 a chance to work collaboratively on a production specifically written for them by Ms Lanneke Jones, our new Primary Music teacher.

Here are the driving questions that Ms Jones had in mind as she wrote the production:

• What does home look like to us, to our children?
• What are our visions of Australia today?
• How have artists, musicians, poets and creative minds represented our land?
• How do our first nations peoples represent their culture here?
• Given the nature of the past year, we are invited to appreciate the land we live in, and the beauty, freedom and possibilities it holds for us all.

This play has been created with a mix of old and new Australian songs. Inspiration came initially from Dorothy Mackellar’s ‘My Country’, and then I collated a number of contemporary poems from indigenous authors to be narrated throughout the play. I created a story of Holly, a girl who lived in the Northern Territory who moves to the city of Sydney with her family, finding home and belonging in both places. I have endeavoured to weave Australian scenes within the plot through songs, images and poetry.

Stage 2 girls will be working towards a concert in Term 3 that will present repertoire inspired by work of Matthew Doyle. Matthew is a descendant of the Muruwari people from the Lightning Ridge area of NSW and grew up in Southern Sydney on Dharawal land. He is a professional musician, composer, dancer, choreographer, cultural consultant and educator, with a passion for passing on the indigenous languages of Sydney.

Primary Instrument Recruitment

Girls who are not learning an instrument at school are being encouraged to consider taking up a band or string instrument! Recruitment concerts were held for cello this week with mentoring from older students. Elizabeth Teoh (Year 5) and Georgie Auld (Year 5) performed beautifully for the girls in the Year 1 and Year 2 music classes, demonstrating the beautiful rich sounds of the cello. Some primary and older secondary girls played band instruments to a captive audience of Year 2 girls, showing them all the different instruments available to learn at SCEGGS. Thank you to the following girls who assisted:

Girls who take up instruments will be able to join an ensemble after they have had a term or two of lessons.

Musician of the Week

Each week we will be choosing a musician from one of the ensembles and asking them a few questions about their participation in an ensemble.

This week, we are featuring Allegra Sintras in Year 11. Here are her responses to Music Committee member (Band) Lily Helene’s questions:

1. Why did you play your instrument?

I chose to start learning the saxophone because it has a very dynamic and creative sound that is flexible for so many different genres. Saxophone is one of those instruments that no one gets tired of. Everyone loves hearing the sax solo in a jazz or blues piece! I used to play the clarinet, but after playing for 3 years, I realised I wasn’t quite enjoying it but I knew I loved music. I started to learn the saxophone and the transition wasn’t too difficult because the clarinet is very similar.

2. Why do you love performing in this ensemble?

I have only been a part of the Basie Jazz Ensemble since the beginning of the year.  I have been welcomed with open arms and feel lucky to be a part of it. The other girls are very inclusive and collaborative, and Mr Jewitt never fails to make early morning rehearsal a joy! I love learning new jazz pieces that are all so different and dynamic!

Peripatetic Music program

Want to learn an instrument or voice? It’s not too late to apply for instrumental or vocal lessons. The form can be accessed here.

Pauline Chow
Head of Music