Scotch College

Oliver's Finale

Oliver Ng, LMusA (Distinction) gave his final Concerto Concert with the Scotch College Symphony Orchestra on 20 June at Melba Hall, for the Concerto Concert.

Oliver has performed at least one Concerto a year since he was in Year 7 (when he received distinction for his Licentiate Diploma, having received his Associate Diploma - AMusA - whilst still a Junior School student!). On this occasion Oliver gave a beautiful account of the Piano Concerto No. 3 by Rachmaninov, ably accompanied by the Scotch College Symphony Orchestra. Oliver will be playing Violin with the Orchestra for the remainder of the year, but this is his last Concerto whilst still a student at Scotch.

However, we all hope that it will not be the last Concerto that he plays with Scotch Musicians, as I am sure that he will return as a guest, once the James Forbes Academy is completed.

Cellist Ye Lian He

The concert also featured Cellist Ye Lian He (LMusA), who performed the Bocherini Cello Concerto - an exceptionally difficult work for both soloist and orchestra.

Ye Lian has a great flair for performing, and has exceptional natural talent.

He achieved his Licentiate Diploma on both Piano and Violin while in Year 9, and was strongly featured as a soloist at the International Festival of the Arts at Harare, Zimbabwe, on the recent Chamber Orchestra Tour.

Two other school ensembles performed. These were a recently formed Brass Ensemble, under Glenn Bardwell and Jude Hallum's Percussion Ensemble.

While the brass concentrated on early music, giving a soulful rendition of Gabrielli's Sonata Pian'e Forte, the Percussion Ensemble treated us to Miki's Marimba Spiritual II.

This was a remarkable and very contemporary work, which provided a wonderful piquant dissonance in an otherwise conservative concert.

Soloist Judith Carpenter

The guest soloist for the evening was Judith Carpenter, who performed the Concerto for Piccolo and Strings by Vivaldi. Judith was a former staff member at Scotch, and has since performed with orchestras in Norway, and other European countries, as well as having performed with the Tasmanian, Adelaide, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras.

She is a particularly outstanding piccolo player, and it was a great treat for the boys to hear such dazzling playing. Once again the orchestra accompanied most ably, and Ye Lian was particularly secure as the continuo cellist.

Mr John Ferguson
Director of Music