SHEP Primary

State Honours Ensemble Program - Primary (SHEP) Program Information Dates:

5 – 6 December

Cost: Venue: Saturday Rehearsal times Final Performance:

$200 Dependent on ensemble allocated to (see below) Students allocated to either AM or PM session (5.5 hours duration) Sunday 6 December – Queensland Conservatorium Theatre Griffith University Students will be required for approx. 5 hours for rehearsal and performance Students/Families attending the program are required to organise their own transport and accommodation (if applicable) throughout.

Students will need to provide their own food throughout the program String and Band Students need to bring their instrument including spare reeds, strings etc and a collapsible music stand.

All students: water bottle, personal hand sanitiser, lip balm, jacket or jumper, towel to sit on Saturday: Participants wear appropriate clothing (same as a free dress at school) and covered flat footwear (no thongs or sandals). T-shirts will be handed out during the first rehearsal session.

Sunday Performance: Students to wear their formal school uniform (not band uniform).

There are multiple accommodation options in the South Bank area for those families who are travelling to Brisbane to attend the program. Please feel free to email me If you would like recommendations. Some local hotels do offer discount for families during the SHEP weekend.

Email (preferred) – shep-conservatorium@griffith.edu.au Phone: 3735 6375

Accommodation & Travel: Food: What to bring

What to wear

Accommodation options for families travelling to Brisbane

How to contact us

Ensemble Allocation •

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There are approximately 1000 students attending SHEP Primary. Each student will be allocated to one of 13 ensembles; there are 5 string ensembles, 6 wind ensembles (percussion is part of the wind ensemble) and 2 vocal ensembles. Where possible we will ensure that each ensemble contains at least two students from the same school Once the program numbers are finalised with all students accepted and registered, we will then allocate students to one of the thirteen ensembles. You will receive an email advising the ensemble, rehearsal session block, rehearsal venue and Sunday rehearsal and performance times. You will also receive the full ensemble schedule 2 weeks prior to the program commencing.

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Rehearsals Once all students have accepted and registered, we will then allocate students into their ensembles. Each ensemble will be required to attend either an AM or PM rehearsal session block on the Saturday at one of the venues listed below. Each ensemble will also be required to attend at a specific time on the Sunday for rehearsal and then Finale performance.

Rehearsal Sessions blocks for Saturday: (Students will be allocated to either AM or PM session) AM Session – Students arrive at 6.30 am rehearsals commence at 7am and finish at 12.30 PM Session – Students arrive at 1.00 pm rehearsals commence at 1.30 and finish at 7 pm.

Registration on Day One Students will go directly to their rehearsal venue where they will be marked off the roll and receive their name tag and t-shirt. Only one person can drop off and collect students from their rehearsal venue

Rehearsal Venues •

The following venues have been selected so that we can maintain the required social distancing of students and staff. Venues are within walking distance of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

• Queensland Conservatorium and Opera QLD, 140 Grey St South Brisbane • Brisbane State High School, Merivale Rd, South Brisbane – 7 min walk from QLD Conservatorium • Somerville House, 17 Graham St South Brisbane – 15mins walk from QLD Conservatorium

Finale Performance After careful consideration, and an extensive review of the schedule, we are unable to have live audiences for the SHEP concerts in 2020. We appreciate this is an unfortunate outcome, however, due to the cleaning requirements as per the industry COVID Plans, the number of ensembles and change over time required makes presenting concerts live untenable. Everyone's safety for this event has been paramount in each decision made. We are, however, anticipating that we will have permission to record the performance and share it with families post SHEP.

Communication/Further information Please be assured that we will provide all information that you will require within an appropriate timeframe and we ask that you read all information that is provided in each communication sent out.

What is the Honours Program?

The State Honours Ensemble Program is an educational program for music students that helps extend and encourage their pursuit of musical excellence.

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Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University’s State Honours Ensemble Program has grown from relatively modest beginnings in 2001 to now include more than 4000 participants in twelve programs throughout Queensland. SHEP is now a firmly established aspect of music learning in Queensland, bringing together young people from all over the State, in regional centres and Brisbane to share their passion for making music.

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Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in partnership with local schools, presents five Secondary School programs - SHEP Capricornia (Rockhampton), SHEP North Queensland (Cairns) SHEP Darling Downs (Toowoomba), SHEP Queensland (State-wide) and the Australian Honours Ensemble Program (Brisbane); six Middle School programs in Bundaberg, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Brisbane (South-East Queensland, and Townsville and two primary programs in Brisbane and Maryborough.

Since first commencing in 2001 SHEP has seen over 25,000 students attend the SHEP programs throughout Queensland, from more than 2000 schools; with many of these students progressing from the middle-school programs through to secondary. A select number of participants have also joined the international arm of SHEP, Pacific Honours Ensemble Program, which tours to Seattle each year. Since 2001 more than 300 nationally and internationally acclaimed conductors have led the SHEP ensembles to presentations of musical excellence.

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2018 saw the inaugural Australian Honours Ensemble Program (AHEP) run concurrently with SHEP Queensland - with a wind orchestra, string orchestra and vocal ensemble - making this a truly national program. AHEP is an extension of the State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP).

The Honours Program gives students the opportunity to: •

• Work in an intensive environment of musical excellence with their peers offering a unique opportunity to extend and develop their musical skills • Work with a team of eminent Conductors from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University • Represent their Schools (in full uniform) in a Finale Performance on the Sunday of the Program • Receive a Certificate of Participation and Honours Program T-Shirt •