VSMF Jazz Ensembles
This week, both of our jazz ensembles attended the Victorian Schools Music Festival. This festival is an opportunity for students to perform in a professional environment, receive written and verbal feedback from well renowned adjudicators from Australia and overseas, participate in an onstage workshop with the chief adjudicator, and listen to other schools perform.
On Monday 29 July, the MWSC Stage Band, directed by myself, won gold in the Senior Jazz Band Category. Bands enter divisions based on two set list songs of varying degrees of difficulty and as such, only 6 bands across the state entered the senior division showing the high standard of this ensemble.
The band was adjudicated by Mr Daryl McKenzie, a well known Melbourne Bandleader and musician and Ms Bethany Robinson, an American Jazz Artist who is acclaimed with many awards in the USA. Bethany had nothing but praise for the ensemble when she worked with them in an onstage workshop following the performance.
On Friday 2 August, the Jazz Band entered the Junior Jazz Ensemble, also playing two set numbers. This band of young musicians, directed by Mr Damien Maughan, performed beautifully, also enjoying the experience of an onstage tutorial following their performance. We are proud to announce that they also won a Gold award!
Congratulations to both ensembles on their performances!
Lunchtime Concert
This week the senior campus enjoyed a lunchtime concert given by the senior choir and senior guitar ensemble. Concerts like this are a great way for students to show off their hard work and gain valuable practice performance experience. Thanks to Mr Lee Jones and Mr Tom Frost for overseeing the organisation of this event.
Upcoming Music Dates
- Wednesday 7 August – VSMF Junior Choir
- Thursday 22 August – VSMF Chamber Strings
- Friday 23 August – VSMF Presto Strings
- Wednesday 28 August – VSMF Concert Band & Symphonic Band
- Wednesday 4 September – 60th Anniversary Celebrations (Music Performances)
- Monday 9-13th September – Southstreet (Dates TBC), Stage Band, Chamber Strings & Symphonic Band
- Thursday 19 September – Unit 3 Recital
Mrs Tijtje Keatley
Music Director