Scotch College

A wonderful evening of superb orchestral music

Concerto Concert brings out the best in our outstanding Symphony Orchestra.

Words: Stuart Connew • Acting Head of Keyboard

A near capacity audience enjoyed a wonderful evening of superb orchestral music at the Concerto Concert, in the Ian Roach Hall on Wednesday 25 June.

The Scotch College Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Director of Music John Ferguson, was in fine form and played a demanding program with great aplomb.

The evening began with the first movement of the Piano Concerto No 3 by Rachmaninov, and featured year 12 student Ronald Ho as piano soloist. This is a demanding work for a young pianist, and Ronald played magnificently. The orchestra accompanied excellently, and with great sensitivity to the subtle demands of this orchestral score. The interweaving of orchestral solos with the piano soloist was particularly effective. The balance between the rich orchestral sound and the delicacy and refinement of the piano line were managed effectively and with accuracy.

When you consider that this is a school orchestra playing a work that would challenge many a professional orchestra, the achievement is all the more remarkable and impressive.

Ronald Ho is a superb pianist, having completed his L Mus A diploma at a young age. It is a wonderful opportunity for a student to be given the chance to perform a concerto with an orchestra that is more than up to the task. It was a thoroughly enjoyable performance.

After interval the orchestra played another challenging and demanding work: Symphony No 8 in G major, Op 88 by Antonin Dvorak. This really gave the various sections of the orchestra – strings, woodwind, brass and percussion – a chance to display their talent. Some exquisite playing from solo instruments added to the beauty of this performance.

It was obvious that this work is a great favourite of the conductor, John Ferguson. He conducted with great flair and passion, and was able to extract from his young players a wonderful rich sound.

This work has four movements and each has its challenges. For many young players the ability to play an adagio with a sustained tone throughout is a challenge, but this orchestra once again displayed why they are regarded in such high esteem. The playing was incredibly beautiful and very sensitive. Then the final movement, a rousing allegro, really allowed the players to let rip (so to speak) with a powerful, confident tone and strong rhythmic sense. The percussion section, particularly added to the great sense of climax as this stunning evening drew to a close.

A day later this same orchestra was entertaining the entire Junior School with a fabulously entertaining presentation of Prokofiev’s Peter and The Wolf, with year 12 student Nathan Su performing the role of the narrator very capably. The young students were fascinated to hear and see a live performance of this much-loved work. The orchestra then concluded their performance to the Junior School with the rousing last movement of the Dvorak 8th Symphony.

I couldn’t help but think how extremely fortunate the students at Scotch College are to be able to witness such outstanding music making. It must surely be an inspiration to younger players to keep on with their practising, knowing that they will one day have the opportunity to play real orchestral music with the Symphony Orchestra. GS