Newsletter Term 2 #13 18 May 2018 St Andrew’s COLLEGE Nec Aspera Terrent The senior choir performing at the Music Festival To the Andrean Community "You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note" Doug Floyd It is a well known fact that Jack Torres has an exquisite singing voice. He has the unique gift of seamless tonal progression and a beautiful barritone note range. As I sat in the audience at the Music Festival on Tuesday night for the Senior Choral concert, and as the choir organised themselves - the choir master fussing about in that uniquely choir-masterly quest for the pre-launch zero-defect state, it was with a sense of anticipation - for I love choral music and, as I have noted, there were some great voices assembled. St Andrew’s College Nec Aspera Terrent 18 May 2018 All the more suprising, then, for my Philistine science-teacher ears, that as the choir embarked on their beautiful Saints "mash-up" (Mr Heynsen's words, describing a "mash" of Swing Low Sweet Chariot and Oh When the Saints) I was surprised that although he was there, and prominently so, the individual wonder of Jack's voice had disappeared. Not literally, of course, but into the layered harmony of the group. Each of them had become one, and in doing so, their individual gifts had ceased to be theirs, but belonged now to something much bigger than any one of them alone. That is the essence of a choir, of course, and from where it derives its wonder. The same could be said of an orchestra, and indeed, of almost any sphere of life. For we are social beings, and we function best when we work together, when we work in harmony, and when we have a shared vision (in this case, literally singing from the same hymn sheet). I sat there enjoying my mash-up immensely, reflecting on the fact that while a choir has immense intrinsic aesthetic value, it is a great metaphor for life, for school, and the band of brothers that comprises it. And of course, in spite of the fact that when I sat down to write this newsletter I had promised myself that I would not write about sport, and especially not about rugby (because I so often do, and we all need a change once in a while) there can be no better comparison than that between a choir in full harmony and a team in full flight towards the try-line. It's the same principle at work. And tempting as it is to assume that harmony is a metaphor for sameness, the opposite is actually true. Like in the sports team that I'm not talking about, choral excellence is actually found in the unique differences inherent in the voices which, when harnessed and working together, create harmonious magic. Alan Thompson [email protected] St Andrew’s College Nec Aspera Terrent 18 May 2018 ACADEMICS Viewing design at VW The Grade 10 Design class visited the Volkswagen factory and Auto Pavilion in Uitenhage and had an amazing tour of the factory where the VW Polo is built and enjoyed a nostalgic display of old VW cars and interactive activities. The pupils loved every moment! Important dates Grade 9 Parent and Pupil Subject Choice Information Talk: 14 June 16:00 - 17:00 Venue: Lille Strong Hall at DSG The selection of one’s subjects in grade 9 is becoming increasingly important, particularly with our boys being given the option (as of the end of this year) to do A levels or IEB from the end of their grade 10 year. I strongly encourage parents to attend this talk to hear more about this option as well as learn about the merits of several other subjects Grade 10 Parent and Pupil A Level Talk: 14 June 16:00 - 17:00 Venue: DSG Library At the same time that we are running the Grade 9 Subject Choice Information Talk, we will run one for the current grade 10’s to hear more about the A Levels we are offering from 2019. Attendance is strongly encouraged if this is of interest to you and your son. Matric Exam Preparation Camp 2018 2-4 September In order for holidays to be planned and flights to be booked, a reminder from last term of the following dates for this year’s Matric Revision Camp. The camp will start at 8am on Sunday 2nd September, so boys will need to be back the night before if they don’t live close by. St Andrew’s College Nec Aspera Terrent 18 May 2018 CULTURAL Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts (FEDA) A cast of six Grade 12 Dramatic Arts students and their stage manager flew up to Johannesburg to perform their play, titled REVOLT at the prestigious Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts at the Johannesburg Fringe Theatre on Saturday the 12th May. FEDA is an annual festival for Johannesburg schools to compete and showcase their skill and talent on stage. It has been running for 12 years and has grown larger each year. This was the first year that a school from outside Johannesburg has participated and DSG and St Andrew’s were warmly welcomed to the festival. FEDA is divided into two sections: the original works category and the published works category. The best plays from each category then perform in the final round, taking place on the 26th of May. A prize of R10 000 is awarded to the winning play as well as the opportunity to perform at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. This was a fantastic opportunity for DSG and St Andrew’s College to be part of a festival that showcases some of the best student drama in the country. REVOLT, a play devised by the cast, under the guidance of Mr Wesley Deintje, was well received by a large audience. The adjudication, delivered by theatre industry professionals at the end of the evening, praised REVOLT for its creative, slick and thought-provoking approach to the complex issue of how boys and girls feel about ‘playing’ assigned gender roles. The cast – Avia Repapis, Alyssa Ross, Jacques Hoefnagels, James Baker, Josh Orsmond and stage manager, Luisa da Molo – will have to wait until the 24th of May to hear if they have made it through to the final round. Nonetheless, they are congratulated on a superb performance and certainly showcased some of the best high school drama that the Eastern Cape has to offer. Susan Baker HOD Dramatic Arts St Andrew’s College Nec Aspera Terrent 18 May 2018 YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL KICKS OFF The annual DSG/SAC Youth Music Festival got off to an fantastic start on Tuesday afternoon with two excellent choral concerts. The junior choir festival was at 16h30 and included five choirs from DSG Junior, Graeme, Kingswood, and VG Primary. There were some startlingly charming and competent performances which bode very well for the future of choral singing in our city. In the evening, there were seven choirs performing in the senior choir festival. SAC, DSG, Graeme College and Victoria Girls’ High School were very well-represented. There was some excellent singing and the highlights included the VGHS tribute to Nelson Mandela and the energetic performances of both our own Chapel Choirs. At the time of writing, the auditorium of the David Wynne Music School is packed with pupils, parents and teachers all listening to young soloists of varying playing levels and instruments. If the bursts of enthusiastic applause are anything to go by, they’re having a lot of fun in there! By the time you read this, the Festival will be almost over save perhaps for the Gala Concert on Friday night. Nonetheless, more next week……..watch this space. Mike Skipper Director of Culture Mike Skipper Director of Culture St Andrew’s College Nec Aspera Terrent 18 May 2018 ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE CookClub ng The cooking club hosted their second - Remove from heat, cover fillet with 30 to 35 minutes. session at Lad’s Corner last night foil and allow to stand for 5 minutes where they made pan-seared fillet before serving. - Remove from oven drizzle balsamic medallions, creamy thyme sauce and vinegar over the vegetables and roasted sweet potato with balsamic OVEN ROASTED SWEET POTATOES - season with salt and pepper. glaze. Ingredients: The evening was a success and it left Recipe - 4 cups chopped peeled sweet the boys excited for their next session potatoes. which will include the appearance of a PAN-SEARED FILLET - - 3 tablespoons olive oil guest chef and a taste test. - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, or Ingredients: more to taste - 1.5kg beef fillet - 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper - 1 teaspoon ground black pepper to taste - 1⁄2 teaspoon salt - 2 tablespoons olive oil Method: Method: - Preheat oven to 220 degrees C. - Sprinkle fillet with salt and pepper on both sides. Rub seasoning into - Drizzle olive oil over the sweet meat with your fingers and cut into potatoes and toss to coat; pour into a medallions. shallow roasting pan. - Heat olive oil in a pan over medium - Roast sweet potato in preheated heat. Add fillet medallions and cook oven, turning frequently, until the for 5-7 minutes on each side. vegetables are soft and golden brown, St Andrew’s College Nec Aspera Terrent 18 May 2018 COLLEGE SPORT 1st rugby side at the Grey Rugby Festival. Dear All On Sunday a number of our hockey players went through to Port Elizabeth for EP hockey trials and we are awaiting the This last weekend was dominated by the home rugby announcement of the various age-group teams.