Senior Piano Concert
On 28 July, 23 students from Years 7 to 12 performed at the annual Piano Concert held in the CM Wood Centre. We had a mix of performances this year, including jazz, classical, romantic, pop and film music. There were quite a few pieces by Australian composers such as Norton.
Two of the VCE Music Performance students, Justin Rocio and Tony Wang, performed two of the solo works that they have been practising in preparation for their exam in October.
At the end, Ms Lok, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Clementson, Tintern Head of Keyboard, played a piano trio (6 hands playing on 1 piano) called Happiness, a light-hearted jazz piece.
On behalf of all the piano students at Tintern, I would like to thank the 3 piano teachers for their hard work and commitment in teaching all of the students and their invaluable support on the night.
We hope that more students can attend next year’s concert, as piano concerts are always very enjoyable and a good opportunity for students to showcase one of their pieces in front of a supportive audience. Even if you’re not performing, it is also beneficial to hear other students perform.
by Alan Wu, Year 12
Talented past music student visits Tintern whole school assembly
On 22nd July, a former student and school pianist, Ellen Falconer (2010), came to visit Tintern. She performed a piece at assembly called Preludi Autunnali by Malipiero. Ellen also told us about her past musical experiences at Tintern, studying for her double degree at ANU (music and curatorship) and her new adventure as a PHD student at the University of London, which she is about to commence. After assembly, four senior piano students, Justin Rocio, Tony Wang, Alison Yang and Alan Wu, were given the chance to perform to Ellen in a masterclass on stage in the CM Wood Centre. The 4 pieces chosen were Clementi’s Sonatina Op.36 No.6 in D Major, Chopin’s Military Polonaise, Scriabin’s Etude Op.2 No.1 and Khachaturian’s Toccata. Ellen provided very helpful comments about the performances, suggesting improvements in posture, pedaling and timing. Although some suggestions had already been made by the students’ piano teachers, it was good to hear some of the different ways one could practise in order to achieve the best performance possible.
On behalf of the 4 students, I thank Ellen for coming in to talk about her university life and comment on our performances. It was definitely inspiring to hear about how well she is already doing in her music. We wish her good luck for the future.
by Alan Wu, Year 12
Concert Band performance at the Victorian School Music Festival
Tintern Grammar Concert Band attended the Victorian School Music Festival on Monday 25th July. After a busy afterschool program of eating then rehearsal and then eating again, the Concert Band excitedly made its way to the bus bay for the trip into Hawthorn Performing Arts Centre (the beautiful old Hawthorn Town Hall). We listened to the first band perform from St Bede’s in Mentone and then we were ushered into a stately room, where Mrs Clarke conducted some warm ups. Finally, it was our turn to perform! We played well and received some positive and helpful feedback from the chief adjudicator. She particularly enjoyed our humour and willingness to contribute to the discussion about our performance. The Concert Band was awarded a Silver in its section. Having just moved up a section this year, we are pretty proud of our achievements. After a very long day, a very quiet, but content bus load of students, returned to Tintern. A big hank you to Mrs Bortolussi and the many supportive Mums and Dads who came along to support us at this event.
by Lisa Clarke (Director of Concert Band)
Senior Boys Chamber Choir performance at the H.R. Stevens Memorial Concert
Tintern’s Senior Boys Chamber Choir has enjoyed a very successful year of singing, performing at a number of school events, and enjoying great camaraderie. We were very honoured to be invited to perform in this year’s H. R. Stevens Memorial Concert at Deepdene Uniting Church. The Reverend H. R. Stevens was a champion of music education, and had spent a lifetime encouraging developing musicians.
The concert featured performers from Melbourne Opera, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, Kingswood College, and Tintern Grammar. Our choir sang three contrasting works: the traditional Scottish ‘The Wild Rover’, Andrew Carter’s ‘Mary’s Magnificat’ and Bruce Johnston’s ‘I Write the Songs’. The boys made the most of the fine acoustics of the elegant church, and enjoyed the opportunity to talk to pupils from other schools and share music in the wider community.
The boys are to be congratulated on their outstanding performance, which made quite an impact on the audience. Many people approached the members of the choir to congratulate them on their fine sense of ensemble, powerful sound and accurate performance of complex harmonies. They accepted praise graciously, and were fine young ambassadors of Tintern
by Rowan Kidd, Director of Senior Chamber Boys Choir
Photograph by Hilary Pywell
