From the Music Department
Welcome back, and a warm welcome to all new students. Thank you to all the students who have auditioned for Concert Band, Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble and Choir. It was really pleasing to see, and hear so many students having a go.
All music ensembles have started rehearsals. Year 7s who auditioned for a String Ensemble have now been placed into the appropriate ensemble, and all Year 7 students who auditioned for Band have been placed into Concert Band II for now. This ensemble rehearses on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7.15am.
If you have missed one of the opportunities to audition for an ensemble, it is not too late. If you have any questions about ensembles, please go to the following link https://www.shore.nsw.edu.au/co-curricular/performing-arts/music or come up to the Music Department. The ensemble rehearsal schedule is below.
Mentors are Shore Old Boys who have been enthusiastically involved and excelled in the Music programme over their time as students. They have returned to Shore to help assist in the development of the Core Music Ensembles. These mentors are here to help guide the boys, assist in problem solving, instruct them on instrumental techniques, and develop their own leadership skills. Their assistance is greatly appreciated, and they are an invaluable and integral part of our Music programme.
Welcome back to Old Boy Music Mentors Mr B Cody-Osborne (’23) and Mr R Kennedy (’21). We also welcome Mr H Chambers (’23) to the Team.
There is also a new Director of Choirs, Mr Massey. Mr Massey is currently Artistic Associate at Gondwana Choirs, where he conducts one of the Sydney Children’s Performing Choirs. He has led choirs on camps and tours and has worked with their Young Men’s Choir as a guest and Conductor Fellow. Mr Massey has also been a conductor of the RSCM Junior School’s Choral Festival. He has helped to prepare choirs for the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras. We also welcome Ms Oxley, who is acting as Coordinator of Keyboards and Accompanist while Ms McGlynn is on maternity leave. She has a Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts Management and joins Shore with a wealth of experience. She has accompanied many HSC students as well as been repetiteur for musicals and opera productions, and has received the Peter Pears/Britten Prize, Glydebourne Prize and the Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship. Not only does Ms Oxley play piano, but she also plays French horn and is an experienced soprano and adjudicator. We warmly welcome Mr Massey and Ms Oxley.
Camps
There are several Music Camps: Strings Camp is on Tuesday 27 February; Band Camp is on Thursday 7 March and Friday 8 March and Choir Camp is Wednesday 7 August and Thursday 8 August.
Details will be emailed to parents. For more information please contact Head of Strings: awentzel@shore.nsw.edu.au; Coordinator of Bands: pdorich@shore.nsw.edu.au; or for Choir Camp: Director of Choirs: lmassey@shore.nsw.edu.au
Private Music Tuition
Lessons have begun for students learning instruments at Shore. The School offers lessons on all brass instruments including euphonium, woodwind instruments, including saxophone, string instruments including guitar, musicianship/theory and drum kit. You can complete a form to sign up for lessons. On scrolling down the page, the form can be found here: https://www.shore.nsw.edu.au/co-curricular/performing-arts/music
If you have any questions regarding private music lessons, please contact privatemusiclessons@shore.nsw.edu.au
Upcoming Dates
| Wed 14 Feb | Concert Group: ACO – River | City Recital Hall | 7.00pm |
| Tue 27 Feb | Strings Camp | Orchestra Room | All Day |
| Thur 29 Feb | Concert Group: OA – The Magic Flute | Sydney Opera House | 7.30pm |
| Thur 7 – Fri 8 Mar | Band Camp | Smith Auditorium | All Day |
| Mon 4 Mar | ENCORE excursion for Elective Music students. | Sydney Opera House | 1.00pm |
| Wed 20 Mar | Concert Group: SSO Meet the Music – Beethoven’s Third Symphony | Sydney Opera House | 7.00pm |
| Thurs 23 Mar – Sat 25 Mar | School Musical: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang | Smith Auditorium | 7.00pm |
| Wed 29 Mar – Sat 1 Apr | School Musical: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang | Smith Auditorium | 7.00pm |
Mrs K Barber
Head of Music
