Music News

The end of the term has come, and yet, music has grown exponentially at St Bernard’s College.

Over the course of ten weeks, the students involved in music have performed for a number of college events, including: various the college masses, the High Achievers Assembly, the International Women’s Day Assembly, Rice Day, the Athletics Carnival and Lunch Live, as well as at the ACC Music Jazz Workshop at Parade College. It has been an incredibly musical term with many rich experiences for all the young men who have spent hours rehearsing and performing. Each of these young men should feel proud of the achievements this year so far.

Guitar Ensemble also had their very first performance for the year this week; performing a little bit of Metallica for the end of term Easter Liturgy. It was a bold performance that not only represented the incredible talents of the young men, but it captured the attention and praise of the entire St Bernard’s College community. Fantastic performance, boys, and thank you to Mr Simon Watt who lead the Guitar Ensemble.

Not only has it been an incredibly rewarding experience for each of the students involved in the college co-curricular music ensembles, it has been a terrific experience for the new year seven students, who have so bravely picked up an instrument, and have started learning how to not only play it but rehearse and play music in a concert band set-up.

In celebration of the hard efforts of each of the year sevens learning music, Super Sevens will be starting next term. This is indeed a great privilege, as the Super Sevens band nominations are only given to students who have shown the highest level of potential and commitment on their instrument to date. The first rehearsal for the Super sevens band will be held on Wednesday, 3rd of May in the Band Room (Room 301) at 7.30am. This is the second Wednesday back in Term 2. Rehearsals throughout Term 2 will be held each Wednesday morning at the same time, and will conclude just before homeroom.

In news of Term 2, the college Symphonic Ensemble will be performing for the ANZAC Ceremony on Friday 28th of April, and the year 12 music students will be performing for the Edmund Rice Day celebrations. Lunch Live will have it second concert later in Term 2, five Year 12 students will also be professionally performing for the St Bernard’s College Gala evening at the Melbourne State Library, Mr Smith will begin directing the student band for the college musical – The Little Shop of Horrors, the ACC Music Percussion and Vocal Workshop will take place on the 22nd of May, and the St Bernard’s College Drumline will have its first rehearsal on the 3rd of May at 7:30am in the auditorium.

Around the business of another incredible musical term, there will be three amazing music concerts taking place in Term 2:

• June 6th – Year 12 Semester 1 Soiree Performance Evening

• June 15th – The Year 7 Semester 1 Music Concert

• June 22nd – The Combined St Columba’s and St Bernard’s College Music Performance

Trybooking is still open for you to enroll or re-enroll your son into private instrumental lessons for term 2, and will close on the 12th of May. If you would like to enroll/re-enroll your son into music lessons, please click on the link, https://www.trybooking.com/CGOPK. If you have any questions regarding private instrumental lessons, please contact the music administrator, Michelle Puglisi at MPuglisi@sbc.vic.edu.au.

At present, the instrument lessons offered at St Bernard’s College are:

Piano and Voice

Brass

• Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium

Woodwind

• Flute, Clarinet, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone

Percussion

• Drumkit and pitched percussion

St Bernard’s College current lesson options are:

• Year 7 Student: Regular (1 student 30 min lesson) or Paired (2 students 30 min lesson)

• Year 8 Student: Regular (1 student 30 min lesson) or Paired (2 students 30 min lesson)

• Year 9 Student: Regular (1 student 30 min lesson) or Paired (2 students 30 min lesson)

• Year 10 Student: Regular (1 student 30 min lesson) or Comprehensive (1 student 60 min lesson)

• Year 11 Student: Regular (1 student 30 min lesson) or Comprehensive (1 student 60 min lesson)

• Year 12 Student: Regular (1 student 30 min lesson) or Comprehensive (1 student 60 min lesson)

Please note that if there is no other student to pair lessons with, 15 minute weekly lessons or 30 minute fortnightly lessons will be offered for your son instead. This arrangement can be discussed with your son and his tutor.

Students are highly encouraged to be a part of one of the college ensembles if they are having music lessons. Joining an ensemble is a nurturing experience that allows your son to develop not only new friendships but challenging musical skills, which in culmination includes various performance opportunities; including all year ACC Music, the Music Soiree and a collaborative concert with St Columba’s College in term 2. It is also highly encouraged that if a student is also interested in joining an ensemble but are not currently undertaking lessons, to register, so they can study their ensemble music more carefully with one of the private instrumental teachers.

In term 2, Friends of Music will be resuming. Friends of Music is a wonderful opportunity for parents and members of the St Bernard’s Community to get involved in the music program, and with that contribute to creating as many opportunities as possible for all the young men involved. Looking ahead, it is our hope to raise money for not only a more diverse collection of instruments, but for a national and international trip within the next few years. If you would like to join Friends of Music, please email the Head of Music, Joshua Romeo at JRomeo@sbc.vic.edu.au.