From the Music Department

Scholars’ Recital

Concert Group – Joyce Yang in Recital 20/5/24 at City Recital Hall

This past week, the Shore concert group was privileged to watch concert pianist Joyce Yang perform in recital. The recital consisted of a programme of solely Russian composers including Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and Mussorgsky.

The beginning of the programme was Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons. This collection of 12 works, each distinct in character and texture. Yet, they collectively paint a vivid musical calendar of a year in Russia. This was followed by three of Rachmaninoff’s Preludes. Rachmaninoff was depressed for a large portion of his adult life, often due to homesickness for Russia after his emigration due to World War One and the Russian Revolution. Each short piece is no longer than six minutes in length and manages to showcase Rachmaninoff’s musical voice. As Joyce Yang describes the pieces, “They do not necessarily have answers, these pieces are a reflection of our lives.” To play these pieces, the pianist must be vulnerable with the audience and by achieving this, the performance of this small set of pieces became mesmerising.

Further, Joyce Yang performed the final movements of Stravinsky’s The Fire Bird Suite, arranged for piano. The piece is a suite derived from his 1910 ballet The Firebird, which was his first major work that catapulted him to international fame. Originally for orchestra, this piece was arranged for solo piano. As a result, the performer must be able to capture each tone colour and expression solely within the piano. This is a testament to the technical abilities of Joyce Yang.

The Shore Concert Group is looking forward to more concerts throughout the year, the next being The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.

JJ Black
Year 11

Congratulations to…

…Alexander Beattie, Daniel Becker, JJ Black, Joel Gilmour, Andrew Gilchrist, Ben Hocking, Russell Jiang, Saxon Mitchell, Dominic Nagle, Kieran Old, Oliver Parrish, Jonnie Pridmore, Eddie Scougall and James Thompson, who performed last Wednesday 29 May at the Year 11 Elective Music Concert. Thank you to Ms Oxley, who accompanied these students and to Ms Robertson and Ms Fitzgerald, who helped organise this event.

…Max K who was a finalist and performed at the Rotary Gordon Waterhouse Scholarship Awards last Thursday 16 May at Chatswood. Max is an excellent violist who performed Mátyás Seiber’s Elegy for Viola and Piano and Frank Bridge’s Allegro Appassionato, H. 82.

Upcoming Events

Instrumental and Choral Concert

Students have been rising early in the morning to rehearse repertoire for the upcoming Instrumental and Choral Concert that showcases Symphony Orchestra, Choirs, Chamber Ensembles and Guitar Ensemble. The concert will be held on Thursday 13 June in the Smith Auditorium at 7pm and will be approximately 2 hours in length, including a short interval. The car park will be open from 6.15pm. This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend.

Music Photos

When the Music Ensemble photos are ready, they will be available to purchase via the link melbastudios.com.au and click on “SCHOOLS”. The password is bluewhite.

Mrs K Barber
Head of Music

Term 2 Music Calendar

Date	Event	Venue	Time
Fri 7 Jun	Battle of the Bands – Heats	Band Room	3.00pm
Wed 12 Jun	Instrumental/Choral Dress Rehearsal	Smith Auditorium	All Day
Thurs 13 Jun	Instrumental/Choral Concert	Smith Auditorium	7.00pm
Fri 14 Jun	Band Concert Dress Rehearsal	Smith Auditorium	All Day
Thurs 20 Jun	Band Concert	Smith Auditorium	7.00pm
Tues 25 Jun	Battle of the Bands – Finals	War Memorial Hall	12.30pm