Year 5 Barbreck Solo Recital

Our special Year 5 Barbreck Recital for soloists, was held on Wednesday 16 November in the Ballroom in Sherren House from 3.45pm until 500pm. All girls in the Year level were proud to perform solos or small ensembles for their family and friends on their Year 5 band instrument. Having already performed earlier in the day at Deakin Edge at the Victorian Schools Music Festival Beginner Band section, along with the Year 6 girls who played in the Junior Band section the girls provided their family and friends with a wonderful recital.

As always, it is remarkable to see so many parents attend these events, even though they are during working hours. The girls always rise to the occasion, and many parents in the afternoon were clearly amazed at how much their daughter had progressed during the year. As always, we had the discussion about practice versus no practice, and how much practice is necessary to make it worth learning an instrument. In some ways, this is almost an impossible question to answer as each girl is different in terms of how quickly they progress on their instrument.

Mr Tim Collins, who deserves our heartiest congratulations for organising all of the day’s activities, including all the participation certificates for the girls, mentioned that some instruments can be more difficult than others at the beginning, but soon all instruments give both joys and challenges.

The culmination of the musical year, for Barbreck girls, was held last night at our much anticipated Barbreck Concert. We look forward to bringing you further details in next week’s Music Notes, but I take this opportunity to thank all of the Junior girls for their involvement and commitment to music-making at the School.

PFA Christmas Fair

The School community spent a lovely evening last Friday at the PFA Christmas Fair. Again, thanks must go to all of the girls who performed Christmas music in Chamber Ensembles, and Soul Power who had the audience grooving in the Wintergarden.

Again, our magnificent teachers – Mr Tim Collins, Mr Saska Ayris and Mr Leigh Olsson had all of the organisation and set up covered for the evening, and we must particularly thank all the Senior girls for returning on the evening of their pupil-free post-examination day.

We also farewelled Year 12 students Greta Chen, Gemma Chan and Katherine Yuan for the very, very last time. The girls were wonderful to come back for the night and we will miss all of our Year 12 cohort greatly.

The evening was another wonderful example of the hard work of our Music Auxiliary. The gingerbread and shortbread, and other delicious baked goodies, were obviously made with a great deal of love and flair and were extremely popular. Thank you so much to the wonderful parents who provide so much to the School and support their daughter’s Music education in every possible way.

2017 Performing Arts Handbook

The 2017 Performing Arts Handbook is now available at mystcatherines. This Handbook includes a great deal of important information including the schedule of fees for 2017 and enrolment and cancellation policies. I encourage all students and parents involved in the Performing Arts for 2017 to read through the Handbook.

Please feel free to contact the Music Administrator on 9828 3014 or email music@stcatherines.net.au with any queries.

Dates – Term 4
  • Years 7 and 8 Awards Assembly – Monday 28 November – Dorothy Pizzey Hall
  • House Arts Performance – Tuesday 6 December – Dorothy Pizzey Hall
  • Senior School Carol Service – Wednesday 7 December – Toorak Uniting Church
Mrs Jenny Mathers, Head of Music