Music

Welcome back

Welcome back to all musicians and their parents. We trust that your holidays have been rewarding, refreshing and perhaps musically productive. Additionally, we extend our congratulations to the students who spent the first two weeks of their holidays touring Japan, performing music with schools and culminating in a wonderful public performance at Tokyo Disney. 

Premiere ensembles, including Viking Vocals 1, Senior Voices, Morris Wind Symphony, Big Band 1, Churchie Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Strings 1, will all begin rehearsals in week one. All other ensembles will start rehearsals in week two. If you are unsure of your rehearsal time or location and have not heard from your conductor by the end of the week, please feel free to make contact via email. Alternatively, you can rely on the scheduling clipboard for your weekly rehearsal schedule.

Private lessons will commence in week two to give students an opportunity to get acquainted with their timetables and settle in. It is always a challenge to work out the initial schedule with your tutor, so please do everything you can to arrive at your first lesson. This will make the timetabling process much easier for you and your teacher.

We have a few announcements about some departing tutors. In addition to Anna Colville and Grace Kruger announcing their departure at the end of last year, Lochlin Dormer has taken the opportunity to progress his performance career in London and Brijette Brookes has been appointed Head of Bands at John Paul College as part of her career progression. We wish Brijette and Lochlin every success in the next chapters of their careers.

We welcome to the Music Department Belinda Williams (Viola), Dominic Machen (Drumkit/Percussion), Andrew Smith (Percussion), Dr Michal Rosiak (Flute) and Michael Keenan (Year 4 Immersion Lower Brass). All of these tutors bring a wealth of experience and excellence in the areas of performance and education. We trust that you will make them feel very welcome and that you will thoroughly enjoy learning from their deep and thorough knowledge of their particular teaching areas.

Students in Senior Voices and Churchie Symphony Orchestra are asked to please keep on top of the communication from the Music Department regarding the Founder’s Day rehearsal and service on January 31.

Japan Music Tour 2024

On 30 November 2023, 37 music students and six staff departed on the inaugural Music Tour to Japan. The itinerary was tightly packed, with each day providing many enriching opportunities and memorable experiences. After landing in Osaka, we visited Osaka Music School to play in a state-of-the-art studio, followed by an assembly performance at Kozu Public School just 30 minutes after finishing at Osaka Music School. The following two days were packed with sightseeing and wonderful experiences as the students tested their resolve on rides at Universal Studios Theme Park and delved into the history of Japan at Osaka Castle and the Todaji Temple.

In Kobe (Brisbane’s Sister City), the students performed at Marist International High School in collaboration with with St Peters Lutheran College, who were touring Japan at the same time. Using Kobe as a base, the tour took a cultural day trip to Kyoto where they fed the monkeys at Arashiyama and walked around iconic temples such as Kinkakuji and Kiyomizudera. The day culminated in a cultural arts performance of some traditional Noh Theatre. Before leaving Kobe, the students performed for St Margaret’s sister school Konan Elementary and had the opportunity to collaborate with their Wadaiko club. After taking the Shinkansen from Kobe to Tokyo, the students performed for Keio Senior High School and were treated to yet another amazing opportunity to interact and share cultures with the Japanese students. The tour culminated in an amazing public performance at Tokyo Disneyland, and the students and staff finished with a wonderful feeling of success and achievement.

As this was the first tour of its kind for Churchie Music, students were keen to make a positive impression. At each school, venue and accommodation, students showed pride through their manners and their presentation, which resulted in many return invitations for future generations of Churchie musicians. Additionally, the students truly understood the universal impact of music. Not only is it fun to perform but it has an inestimable impact on the audiences that you share it with. Music truly transcends the language barriers across the world.

Thank you to the staff, Jeremy Williamson, Ben Hooper, Lochlin Dormer, Rosemary Oxenford and Sarah Fenton-Wolski, and all of the wonderful parents for their support of their students. We hope this tour has created lifelong memories and we look forward to the next tour opportunity.

Congratulations, Gabin Won

Gabin Won recently completed his LMusA in 2023 on the flute. This is the first student in Churchie’s 113-year history to successfully complete the Licentiate for flute in Year 10. We look forward to hearing Gabin performing at the many solo and ensemble opportunities in 2024.

Daniel and The Bachelors performance

Late last year, we were treated to a wonderful performance at the final Headmaster’s Assembly. The students performed and rehearsed this work independently during their lunchtimes. Student bands who are interested in performing at assembly or school service activity are encouraged to make use of the music practice rooms in the Jensen building.

Please follow this link to a recording of Daniel and The Bachelors performing Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’.

Music Calendar Launch and Welcome (Years 7 to 12)

The Music Calendar Launch and Welcome is a wonderful opportunity for students and their parents to come along and meet other parents and students within the music community, especially if you are new to the school or in Year 7. The evening will serve as an opportunity to view slides from the recent Japan Music Tour and collect information on the next tour to Mt Gambier in 2024 and the strings and choral tour in 2025. You will also receive some wonderful information on the music calendar events followed by an opportunity to share some food and drinks with the parent and student community courtesy of the Music Support Group. The event will take place in The Centenary Library lecture theatre on Thursday 15 February.

Bohdan Davison
Director of Music