Scotch College

Foundation Day Concert

Oh what a feeling

In a packed Hamer Hall at the Arts Centre, the Scotch Family audience eagerly stood up to celebrate the 154th Foundation Day Concert and sang, with a traditional mixture of heightened expectation and collegiate enthusiasm, Advance Australia Fair and the College Anthem.

They provided an ‘all-in’ opener to the special treats of the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr John Ferguson, Director of Music. A hushed awe ensued for two virtuoso performances: Thomas Ginn amazed us with his wide-ranging expression in his rendition of Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto No 1; and Timothy Chiang exemplified the new heights of Scotch musical achievement in his rendition of a long, demanding composition, Liszt’s Piano Concerto No 1 in E flat. Both performances were warmly applauded. They established an energising élan in the hall which continued for the entire concert.

Following Arnold’s English Dances 4th Movement and Forty Years On, we were treated to the String Orchestra. Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings 5th Movement, Finale provided a lovely, imaginative sojourn, thanks to the precise direction of Mr Robert Wakely. Next, the Symphonic Wind, which performed this year more than any other group, raised the ante in dynamic contrasts with Vesuvius, followed by Star Wars, both expertly conducted by Mr Roger Schmidli, before interval.

Fortunate and spirited indeed were those on the appropriate floor level during interval who witnessed Sax@Scotch directed by Mr Peter Rickard.

The second half of the concert showcased the popular verve of Scotch music. Primary school kids, Old Boys, proud parents and attentive staff loved the colour, zip and zest of the Scotch sequential triple: the Military Band, Pipe Band and Show Band. It was a major achievement to strategically place the large numbers of the Military Band on stage. Needless to say they looked splendid and they sounded so stirring with a performance of El Cumbanchero, conducted by Mr Shane Gillard, that the audience did not want the Military Band to leave. The Pipe Band with the Drum Major’s impressive twirl of the mace could have stirred the audience to battle with the Devil, so resounding and all-conquering was its appeal after limbering through The Red Fox, The Gold Ring, The Steam Train from Mallaig and When the Pipers Play. The Show Band, directed by Mr Roger Schmidli, confirmed that Scotch music is not only a highly disciplined craft but also a passionate pursuit because Scotch music teachers make both happen. After hearing Spain and Bugle Call Rag, the audience felt ready to cruise past midnight, relishing the musicians’ clapping and foot tapping rhythms. Then followed a masterful and moving harmony of College Choir and Chamber Choir, conducted by Mr Andrew Hunter and accompanied on piano by Mr Nicholas Buc, who took the appreciative audience on a metaphysical journey with Psalm 139, Steal Away and The Last Words of David Goin’ Up to Glory. At this stage, the concert registered in musical form the Keatsian ideal: truth is beauty. Indeed, the recent visit to Scotch College of Dr Anton Armstrong, Foundation Fellow, had clearly energised an expertly led choir with a holistic or ‘whole body’ approach to singing.

The concluding rites to the evening, the mass singing of school songs and A Tribute to the Savoy Operas by Year 10 to 12 students, included two gems: a stunning solo by Joanne Blankfield and a ‘dandy’ parody led by Guy Mylecharane. The Captain of Music, Oliver Blake, and all student performers deserve congratulations for a wonderful concert which exhibited, as one mother remarked, ‘an outstanding standard with so many talented musicians.’

Dr Mark Collins
Foundation Day Concert