Music

How wonderful to be performing again!

One cannot underestimate the human connection which is sparked when we are gifted with the privilege of making music with others, whether this be in the rehearsal room or on the concert stage.

According to leading researcher in music education, Professor Susan Hallam, a breadth of research affirms that participation in group music activities affords numerous social benefits for children; supporting the development of empathy, communication skills, cooperation and teamwork, while contributing to feelings of belonging. The sense of pride which is achieved when each member of an ensemble actively contributes to a shared group outcome, is a significant component of a musician’s experience.

At the beginning of 2022, Lauriston’s musicians were hopeful for a return to live music performance, without restriction and, more importantly, the freedom to engage musically with each other. With restrictions still in place throughout Term 1, which prevented many ensembles from rehearsing in the same room at the same time, our full Music Program was reintroduced steadily and with great caution. As the weeks passed and restrictions began to ease, our Music staff and students enjoyed the gradual springing to life of our program, with the sound of full choral singing, bands and orchestras filling our hallways once again.

Throughout 2022, Lauriston’s musicians returned to the stage time and time again, triumphantly delivering every planned concert in our performance calendar; a feat which has brought joy and celebration to our community.

The Annual Jazz Cabaret marked our first major music celebration for the year, followed shortly afterwards with the

Autumn Concert, for which Irving Hall was filled with a live audience for the first time since early 2020.

The Winter Concert saw a stunning showcase of the work from our Prep to Year 4 students, ranging from ensemble performances through to a showcase of our comprehensive Junior School Music curriculum. Watching our Prep students perform on mallet percussion in perfect unison with one another was a true highlight, and an example of how making music with others encourages teamwork and collaboration from the youngest age, while reinforcing our belief that all children are musicians!

In 2022 we also witnessed the realisation of our revised Recital Series, providing a breadth of both formal and informal performance opportunities for solo instrumentalists and vocalists. Instrumental family Recitals were introduced into the Lauriston performance calendar, with new concerts dedicated to celebrating the beauty of Strings, Keyboard, Voice, Brass, Woodwind and Percussion.

No greater celebration was shared with our community, however, than our spectacular Annual Concert, held at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The excitement, enthusiasm and joy in the backstage hallways was matched only by our musicians’ exuberance on stage and the palpable energy from our audience.

In this concert, our musicians were tasked with presenting a range of sophisticated musical repertoire and met this challenge without hesitation. Our Anthem Choir joined forces with the Xavier College Senior Singers to share three movements from Carl Orff’s epic masterpiece, Carmina Burana and the Trebelles premiered a choral work composed by Class of 2023 student Susannah Giddy.

At Lauriston, all students embrace musical learning and no better example of this can be illustrated than the Annual House Music Competition. Led by Instrumental and Choral Captains from years 10 and 12, each House presented two choral performances and an instrumental work. Guest Adjudicator, Mark Puddy, was challenged to find winners among each section with the quality of singing and ensemble playing consistently beautiful across all Houses; an enviable job! We congratulate Andrews House for their victorious win.

After a year of wonderful performances, we are further reminded that the shared experience of making music together is one which is treasured in our community and that will continue to bring great benefit and joy to our students.

Elizabeth Tindall Head of Music