Scotch College

Foundation Day Concert 2001

Music in October

The Foundation Day Concert is undoubtedly a big night, but in reality it is only one concert of many presented every year as part of the overall music education of our boys.

Term 4 commenced with a whole series of concert performances, as well as recitals and some 200 AMEB exams. On the first Friday of term, the Military Band performed for the Monash Memorial Service, and The Cardinals - a five piece vocal ensemble which has delighted a number of OSCA Dinners this year, as well as half a dozen similar functions - performed for a small ceremony to mark the 149th birthday of the school.

Two days later we had two ensembles in the State Chamber Music Festival which is now held annually at Melba Hall. Competition was ferocious, and we gained 2nd and 3rd place in the competition.

Monday 9 October, saw the annual Percussion Concert held in the Junior School. This annual celebration of Jude Hallum and her academy of percussion is remarkable in that it features a substantial number of percussion ensembles, with much of the music composed or arranged by the students themselves. Ross McAtamney performed a remarkable and demanding marimba solo.

Saturday 14 October was the Jazz Cabaret. This annual function is among the most popular music events in the school calendar, and the evening sold out as usual. The Monday Morning Big Band under Shane Gillard played superbly, and the dance floor was soon filled with parents and friends enjoying the secure beat and warm sounds of the band. The special guest for this year was Nina Ferro who performed much music from her new CD 'Out of the Blue'. She and her trio were joined by the Show Band for a sizable bracket before the Show Band concluded the evening in a highly polished manner. The playing was of a quality that would equal many a professional event, and the Year 2000 Jazz Cabaret was universally hailed as the best yet.

Wednesday 25 October saw the annual October Concert. This concert features The Ted Joyner and Dreyfus Bands, the Henry Touzeau Strings, the Year 9 & 10 String Ensemble and a number of smaller ensembles, including an excellent Clarinet Quartet trained by Ms Philip. Some 400 people enjoyed the concert.

The week of the October Concert was also the week we hosted the Junior School Music Department from St. Peter's in Adelaide. Some 80 boys joined our students to produce an enjoyable performance on Thursday 26 October in the Memorial Hall. This exchange has been happening for a number of years.

The year concluded with the Summer Prom Concert as usual, where we followed last year's model of having Christmas music and a supper at 6.30pm followed by the concert in the Memorial Hall at 7.45pm. The concert featured the Mozart D Major Flute Concerto with Jonathan Cheng, Joshua Flynn and Sophia Canet (an occasional guest from St Catherine's) each performing a movement. Robert Commons (Captain of Music) played the Haydn Oboe Concerto, James Matt performed Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 2. Oliver Blake made his debut with a Xylophone Concerto, and the evening concluded with the Ballet Suite from Tchaikovsky's magical ballet, Sleeping Beauty. The Music School will now 'wind down' for Christmas, and contemplate a busier year than ever when Scotch celebrates 150 busy years!