Scotch College

May Concert 2002

Among the myriad of recitals and internal concerts that marked the first half year of the Scotch music calendar, it is the May Concert that is the largest in terms of participation.

Each year there are over 500 participants, involving some eleven large ensembles. It is not an appropriate event for the small chamber ensembles, but it does feature the ensembles which a student instrumentalist or singer will travel through during his time at Scotch.

This year the concert opened with the eighty-eight piece concert band named in honor of our one time Head of Brass, Ted Joyner. With boys from predominately years 7 and 8 it is obviously an early ensemble experience for the boys.

The parallel ensemble for the strings is the Henry Touzeau String Orchestra, named after a former teacher of cello at Scotch. Of course, the biggest ensemble of all is the Massed Singers from the whole of year 7.

This year the year 7 boys performed admirably under the direction of the Choral Director Andrew Hunter. The highlights of the night included a terrific vibraphone solo by Stephen Dower, alto saxophone solo from Edmund Waters performing 'Up A Lazy River' in preparation for the James Morrison Generations In Jazz Competition in

Mt Gambier which both Show Band and Monday Big Band set off for the day after the May Concert. Andrew Moffat also played tenor saxophone solo with Show Band.

Other highlights included a superb performance of the famous Rondo from Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 4 by Lin Jiang with the Scotch College Symphony Orchestra.

Indeed the orchestra's main item for the night was beautifully handled - the 3rd Mvt of the César Frank Symphony in D Minor, under the baton of Director of Music, John Ferguson.

The Chamber Choir and College Choir performed superbly, particularly polished after their choir camp the week before at the Old Castlemaine Gaol. This camp is proving very popular as a venue, and some of us are beginning to think we have landed a life sentence! Another highlight from the May Concert with the Senior Strings' performance of Handel's Concerto Grosso in A Minor under the direction of Robert Wakely, a particularly well crafted performance.

This year the Concerto Concert took place on the afternoon of Sunday 23 June at Melba Hall (Melbourne University). This concert provides a wonderful opportunity for the students to perform with the Orchestra, and Timothy Chiang made his Concert debut performing Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 1. It was an excellent and very secure performance by the pianist, most ably accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra.

Peter Sparkes gave a sensitive and mature performance of the Weber Clarinet Concerto in F Minor, and Peter Commons (principal bassoon with the orchestra) performed the Bassoon Concerto by Hummel. The concert also included a performance of the Mendelssohn Octet - heard by many at the opening of the James Forbes Academy - and a lovely Brass Ensemble performance of Handel's Water Music. An afternoon tea provided by the Music Auxiliary ended a delightful afternoon of music making.

The end of term 2 saw the start of Music Special Project Week. This happens every two years, alternating with Mission Week.

This year we focused on 'Music in Miniature' particularly with regard to small ensemble improvisation work with some of the Jazz Groups.

Guests artists included Howard Belling with his jazz ensemble and Monique Di Mattina with her jazz ensemble. For many boys, the highlight of the week was a performance at the Melbourne Jazz Restaurant, Manchester Lane. The other event which took the attention of the musicians during term 2 was the move into the James Forbes Academy, followed by the opening for the Sponsors and the main opening on 8 August. A large number of chamber ensembles and the Chamber Choir performed at these events, and many of the guests commented on how much they enjoyed hearing the boys at work on these occasions. Naturally, with such a magnificent new facility, there has been much rejoicing amongst the musicians!