Music

Senior who also has a degree of proficiency at a given 122 instrument, to join up for Concert Band in 2013. Concert Band in 2012 brought with it the return of melody. A far sight from last year’s Sebastian Mundy feature piece, John Adam’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine, this year Thursday mornings A Cappella Nova meant the likes of The Muppet Show (yet to be The A Cappella Nova of 2012 has changed so officially debuted, mind you) and Empire Strikes much since its formation as a small in Back. For the old hands of Concert Band this 2009. It began as a choir of no more than ten, was a welcome relief, for the newcomers, they singing simple arrangements of songs such had no idea what they had missed out on. as Hey Jude conducted by Ms Arnold. Now, it Once again we made our inaugural is a choir of more than thirty students singing performance at the Commencement Service in a myriad of challenging arrangements, many St Paul’s Cathedral. The hard work then began of which have been arranged by our own Ms as we honed our skills focusing on a traditional Jane Patterson. Previously, the choir was concert band piece Go! in preparation for dominated by Middle School students, but it music camp and then the Music Festival at the now consists of mostly Year 10s and some Melbourne Recital Centre. Year 9s and 11s. Ms Patterson (or Ms Jane String as she has been nicknamed) is a fantastic Music camp was where things got serious. conductor who motivates the entire choir to Since the String Orchestra’s formation in The whole band showed their maturity as we perform at their peak. Her presence, as she 2008 by conductor Ms Jenny Dixon and grappled with No.1 (In Memoriam conducts us, is extraordinary and hilarious, as first led by Dovi Hanner, I’ve seen the Dresden, 1945) by Daniel Bukvich, a piece making the experience fun for all. Not to ensemble mature into a youthful and exciting not only challenging because of its historic forget the baked goodies that she brings in group of 50 or so musicians. String Orchestra significance, but also its use of graphic for us on the odd occasion. Throughout the is the place to be, early Thursday mornings notation and aleatoricism. Luckily we had the year we have performed at various venues in the Bluestone Chapel with your , quick wit of Mr Marsland to raise our spirits and and events including Music in the Quads, the , cello or double bass. More experienced keep us motivated for the Music Festival. Singers Soiree and the Music Festival at the musicians, mainly from Years 9 to 12, and A new challenge awaits Concert Band, the Melbourne Recital Centre. We also attended some younger students, join in the vibrant Wesley College Film Night. Armed with an the Boroondara Eisteddfod for the third time atmosphere where we give a lively expression exciting new repertoire of film tunes Concert this year, receiving an honourable mention. of Wesley music. Band is ready to impress. The Concert Band We were all very proud of our achievement While we play almost every period of music, will then hope to channel the Olympic spirit and were able to lighten up the crowd with Ms Dixon’s memorable arrangements of and claim gold at the Royal South Street our rendition of Los Pinguinos after a concert Number 1 chart hits such as Coldplay and of dreary and dull songs. A Cappella Nova is Eisteddfod in Ballarat at the end of Term 3. Lady Gaga, and our all-time favourite Pirates an experience like no other. You get to meet Our final performance of the year will then be of the Caribbean, always make for a great new people, sing lots of challenging, yet at Speech Night, where hopefully The Muppet start to that day. Show can make its long awaited debut and rewarding, repertoire along with having stacks lead the processional. of fun. As a four-year member of this choir, I We love sharing our music, whether it is for a would suggest it to anybody and I am sure it competition, music camp or the annual Music As another successful year of Concert Band will continue to thrive in the future. Festival at the Melbourne Recital Centre, where draws to a close I encourage anyone who is a the rich acoustics of the hoop-pine hall make fan of fun times and Thursday mornings, and Lachie Bagnara our string ensemble bloom like a professional orchestra. Although I am leaving the orchestra at the end of this year, I know it will continue to grow and develop into a great musical talent of Wesley for many years to come. Milla McLean Senior A Cappella 2012 was a rewarding year for Senior A Cappella. With a new (temporary) Music School, new members and obvious new approach, A Cappella reaped in the rewards available in 2012. Placed 2nd at the Vocal Australia contemporary A Cappella competition early in the year, we were off to a great start. We then honed and sharpened our skills at music camp, not to mention a warm up gig at Dizzy’s Jazz Club, to prepare us for Generations in Jazz in Mount Gambier. Our second year venturing to a jazz festival, with no instruments but our voices, would prove to be challenging. However, as predicted, we came through with the goods for the second time in 2012, placed 3rd in the Division 1 Vocal section. This is due to our (self-proclaimed) best performance of the set piece. This milestone award now hangs with many of the Big Bands in the Music School. Many thanks goes to all those who have helped us this year to achieve our goals. Senior A Cappella are now a tight-knit group of versatile singers who all bring their own pizzazz to the group - a quality to be admired. Good luck to the Senior A Cappella of the future…and all that jazz. Branford Gruar and Kristin Coombes

Wel s ey College Chronicle 2012