Don’t Stop the Music!

The final Showcase of the year was an enjoyable evening, showcasing the cultural talents of our Junior School students. Large and small ensembles shone on stage as too did the supporting acts of duets and solos.

Showcase is always an inspirational evening, as students from pre-prep to year 6 have the opportunity to shine and express themselves, and to share their love of music. This semester’s performance was held in the Basketball Courts in the Spartan Gym, due to the renovations in the Performing Arts Theatre. The evening also used a new format, with rotations of three groups at a time. Many teachers, parents and students commented that the courts provided good acoustics, and that the venue provided a good opportunity for the students to watch their peers.

Each year, the Junior School students come together to perform a combined item. This is always a highlight to see, and this year proved no exception. Students involved in musical ensembles from Pre-Prep to Year 6 worked together to perform the 2018 Music Count Us In piece, One Song. The band and orchestra was led by Mrs Rowe, and the choristers by Mrs Black. This performance was particularly special, as the students worked together in a team or ensemble.

The lyrics came to life as the Pre-Prep to Year 6 students sung:

We are united, no point in trying to hide it, we stand higher. We come together, it’s sounding better, united, we stand higher…All we need is one song…

Thank you to Mr Bassingthwaighte and Mrs Collie for watching the performances. A great big thank-you to Mrs Roberts for her wonderful accompanying skills; Mr Roberts for his venue managing, stage managing and general assistance; Miss Morley and Mrs Flynn for their technical support; Mr Flint for letting us use the venue; the Maintenance crew for assisting with the set up; our dedicated conductor’s and directors - Mr Pearce, Mr Keczan, Mr Mitchell, Mrs Little, Mrs Rowe; and all of the Junior School staff who assisted on the evening. We are also extremely appreciative for Ms Higgs and Mr Gerald’s photography expertise and assistance, as they captured some of the special moments of the night.

Thank you to our families and friends for your continued support and of course, a thank you to the dedicated students who have worked so hard to polish and prepare pieces for the event. To use the words of the late Richard Gill:

"We teach music so that children can make their own music. We teach music because it acts in a unique way on the heart, mind, soul and spirit of the child, stimulating thought and imagination in very special ways. These are the real reasons for teaching music."