Another busy ‘musical’ month has flown by! Here is a snapshot of what we have been up to in the Music Department in August:
Mary MacKillop Day
On Monday 8 August, our wonderful Junior and Senior Rock Bands performed throughout the day as part of our Mary MacKillop Day festivities. It was wonderful to see our rock bands finally performing to a live audience, outside in the beautiful sunshine. Our Rock Bands were very entertaining and added to the celebratory atmosphere of the day. Thank you to our fabulous students and their band leaders Mr Stivala and Mr Erickson for a truly wonderful day of music-making. Thank you also to Mr Greatwood for assisting with sound on the day.
Senior Vocal Workshop and Masterclass
On Thursday 18 August, VCE Music Vocalists plus senior voice students participated in a special Vocal Workshop and Masterclass Incursion conducted by Voice Teacher, Musical Director and Composer - Kate Sadler. Voice students participated in a Vocal Workshop, as well as observed our VCE Voice students perform in the Masterclass session. Jordan G (Year 12 VCE Music and College Captain) plus Nelana F (Year 11 VCE Music and Captain of Performing Arts) participated in the Masterclass amongst other students. They share their experiences below:
The singing Masterclass with Kate Sadler was an extremely fun, memorable, and informative session. As an Estill Voice Master Teacher, Kate was clearly very knowledgeable in her field, teaching us about a variety of vocal techniques that we could use to aid our singing. For me, Kate helped provide the techniques that I needed to belt a particular section of my song. The best part of Kate’s session was that she was able to make everyone feel comfortable and at ease, especially when singing a song you are not too comfortable with, as it means exposing the most vulnerable part of your voice. I have learned so much from this masterclass that I can apply to my singing and refine my skill in an art that I am passionate about. Jordan G
I had seen singing masterclasses online, but to participate in one was truly insightful. Kate’s warm-hearted character immediately engaged us as she started off by humming a familiar tune, allowing her to teach us about vibration in head voice and extraction. Her wisdom gave me confidence in why certain parts of my singing might be feeling off. As I watched my peers sing, I could see a rise in confidence in each of us, as we were learning that all our voices are distinct, and we all have our own journey to achieve our desired sound. If you are a singer, I encourage you to participate or listen to a vocal masterclass, as it is an eye-opener and magical experience! Nelana F
Primary School Performances
Our Junior and Senior Voices and Senior Concert Band have been diligently preparing for our Primary School Performances taking place in September. Our ensembles are very excited about this opportunity and are looking forward to visiting our local primary schools.
Congratulations!
On Sunday 14 August, our very own Voice Tutor - Miss Alexandra Mathew was awarded Second Prize in the 16th
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Aria Finals at Melbourne’s Deakin Edge. The RMP Aria is one of Australia’s most prestigious competitions for oratorio soloists, and singers all over the country compete in this competition. Congratulations Miss Mathew!
Upcoming Music Performances - September
Unit 4 VCE Music Night Thursday 1 September, 6pm
Our Year 12 VCE Music Performance students will perform their Unit 4 programs in the lead up to their end-of-year external performance examination. Please see the promotional poster for more information.
Rock Band Night! Friday 9 September, 7pm
We are very excited to be holding our first Rock Band Night after a three-year hiatus of live performances. Rock Band Night will feature Penola Rock Bands from across all year levels, as well as various soloists throughout the night. This is a free event, and everyone is welcome to attend. Please book your tickets via https://www.trybooking.com/CCACY For more information please see the promotional poster.
Mrs Ramona Arney
Head of Performing Arts/Instrumental Music Coordinator