Music in 2023

In 2023

2023 Student Music Leadership Team 

Music Captain             Emily Chung

Vice Music Captain   Sophie Nguyen

Orchestra                 Anthea Arvanitellis

Chamber                Seetha Kathir      

Sinfonia                          Michelle Nguyen

SWE                                Xenia Palmer                     

Senior Vocal Ensemble   Sylvia Tan   

Choir                               Anna Joseph

The significant position Music occupies within the school’s curriculum and the continued strength and success of Music at this school is reflected in the participation of so many of the student population in the performing ensembles and the tutorial program. We are very proud of the many achievements of our talented students, and are very grateful for the dedication and hard work of our music teachers, tutors and parents and the effort and goodwill of many people in the Sydney Girls High School community.

MUSICALE CONCERT 

In late June, the Musicale Concert showcased the talents of students in each Performing Ensemble. In addition there were musical items from all music classes. The combined Year 7 classes performed the traditional song Serving Girls Holiday and featured their recorder skills. The combined Year 8 classes sang Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid supported by the Year 8 band, soloists and dancers. There were items from each for the Stage 5 and 6 Elective Music classes. The finale brought all students and ensembles together with a rousing rendition of ABBA Forever - a medley of ABBA songs. The night was supported by the parent committee who provided refreshments and raffles. The concert a sold out event and thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated and attended.

ENCORE

On February 27 Year 11 Elective Music students attended the Encore Concert at the Opera House. Encore is a program of outstanding performances and compositions by HSC Music students presented by NESA and the DET. 

MEET THE MUSIC

On February 7 all Year 7 students attended the Meet the Music event held in the Governors Centre. Students were introduced to music staff, instrumental tutors and ensemble conductors.  Students were treated to wonderful demonstrations by tutors on each instrument and were encouraged to try out instruments that they might like to commence lessons on.  Professional all women ensembles  - the ... Big Band and ....String Quartet entertained the audience and gave the opportunity for SGHS students to join in. 

YEAR 12 FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY

Year 12 performed selected items from their HSC Music 2 and Music Extension Repertoire for families and friends on July 26. Their performances demonstrated their hard-work, perseverance and dedication to improving their instrumental skills. The students are congratulated on their fantastic performances. 

AUSTRALIAN MUSIC DAY


The Year 11 Music classes attended the Australian Music Day at MLC School, Burwood on Thursday July 27. This annual event serves to unpack the process of composition in preparation for the HSC tasks ahead. Through the day, our students, along with those from many other schools, actively engaged in byte-sized exercises which provided inspiring, creative and varied approaches to composition. 


To commence the day, students enjoyed focused demonstrations from each member of the Melbourne based wind quintet - Arcadia Winds, hearing and discussing the timbres and extended techniques of the oboe, flute, clarinet, bassoon and french horn. The performance of Classical and contemporary works evoked thought around the blend and considerations when writing for this ensemble. Australian composer Elizabeth Younan’s Shoreditch Grind (2015) was performed with the composer describing her use of compositional and musicological features. Arcadia Winds performed the short student compositions and were amazed at the promise and talent of our Year 11 students. 


In the next session we were treated to a presentation by Sydney based composer, Elizabeth Jigalin.  Elizabeth often works in collaboration with artists across disciplines and with audiences, participants and communities to create unexpected encounters of music. In her music, Elizabeth is drawn to miniature forms, the everyday, playfulness, instrument building,collaging and creating ‘music outside the usual order of things’. In her session, Elizabeth used ‘Thinking outside the box’ and improvisational games to provide ways in which to start a composition and inspire unique musical ideas that students can shape into their own compositions. She composed ideas which were immediately interpreted and improvised on by Sydney cellist, James Larsen, with students gaining insight into the possibilities of tonal manipulation on this instrument. 


Our students came away equipped with many more tools for their composition toolbox. The realisation of hearing their digitally notated compositions performed live was the absolute highlight of the day.

YEAR 8 SONGWRITING WORKSHOP

Singer-Songwriters Bec Sandridge, Gabriel Wright and Asti Holz visited SGHS to teach Year 8 about their musical experiences in songwriting. They also provided insights into the music industry, recording and sound production. Using fun and engaging methods students learned about their sources of inspiration, and how to construct and create a song.

Throughout the day, students worked collaboratively in groups to undertake short lyric writing exercises which prepared them to compose a ‘typical’ chorus. The guest artists provided guidance about incorporating original ideas, and how to gather inspiration through chords, melody and using existing songs as models. Students practiced the art of ‘co-writing’ which resulted in each group creating a unique, catchy chorus. 

WYNTON MARSALIS and JAZZ AT THE LINCOLN CENTRE CONCERT

On September 30 this performance provided an incredible opportunity for Stage 5 and 6 students to experience the best jazz band in the world, and to learn about the historical and cultural origins of the genre. The concert was narrated by Grammy award-winning artist Wynton Marsalis and included interactive elements and extraordinary music that was unforgettable.

The performance links to the Jazz Topic in the Stage 5 and 6 curriculum and provided insights in the Jazz genre with performances by the Lincoln Center Orchestra who brought their Jazz for Young People schools’ concert to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

Illustrating the fundamentals of jazz, this narrated program was a high energy interactive concert designed specifically for elective music students. It gave expert insight to the historical and cultural origins of one the world’s greatest art forms.

Student Report by Aleena Kazi Y.11

On the 30th of August, Our music elective classes had the incredible opportunity to attend the recital of the highly acclaimed Wynton Marsalis and his ensemble from Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO). Based in New York, USA, Marsalis and his group have toured globally since 1988 to expand the musical worlds of young audiences, performing jazz pieces such as “Song with Orange”, “On the Grape Vine”, and other classics from the likes of Duke Ellington and Count Basie. These pieces were engaging, electrifying and exciting as these seasoned musicians showed us their undeniable skill and musicality. Truly a spectacle!


After that captivating performance, Ms Housley organised a tour of the Conservatorium of Music for our year 9 - 11 elective classes, where a student ambassador showed us their extensive collection of music scores and recordings (the largest in the southern hemisphere). We saw their vast array of practice studios (where all the students were practising their Rachmaninoffs and their Paganinis) and their impressive recital halls - we even got a glimpse of their early-classical piano forte! 


Overall, it was a fun experience and really exciting to see jazz played at its highest standards and hear an explosion of colour, rhythm, and passion, and equally interesting to peek into the life of a university music student - perhaps an option for us to think about in the future.

SGHS Solo Competition 2023 Poster.pdf

SOLO MUSIC FESTIVAL

2023 SGHS Solo Music Festival Permission Note.pdf

35 students performed in the preliminary round of the Solo Music Festival. From these nine finalists were selected - three in each category: Vocal, Piano and Instrumental. They performed for the Year 7 cohort. Tiffany Cao (pisno) in Year 11 was successful as the overall winner. 

Year 7 Renaissance Dance Day 

October 13

As part of their studies into Medieval and Renaissance Music, Year 7 students learned to play, sing and compose Gregorian Chant using modes. They performed Renaissance songs on recorders and percussion instruments and in groups, devised a dance for their chosen piece. On the Renaissance Incursion Day students performed their dances to their peers accompanied by their own class band of Minstrels. Following this they were treated to a wonderful concert by the Early Music specialist duo Pastdance. A variety of authentic instruments, dances and songs were presented with some engaging audience participation

END OF YEAR ENSEMBLES CONCERT

DECEMBER 6 


CHRISTMAS CONCERT

DECEMBER 7 



PRESENTATION DAY

Senior Orchestra and the combined Choirs combined to perform at Sydney Town Hall on the 13th December 2023 for Presentation Day. They performed Our Time Has Come by Paul Jarman. Year 12 musicians Alice Kim and Shekinah Lowe performed solos from their HSC repertoire. All students are highly commended on their performance at this prestigious ceremony.