Music 2015
Mr Robert Braham Director of Music
Miss Athena Litis Secondary Music Teacher
I would like to start this report by paying tribute to the Year 12 students who led the music program this year: Tom Salleo (12.4), leading the brass with his exceptional trombone playing, James Newcombe (12.5) who used his talents as a violinist, pipe organist and harpsichordist, Lachlan Harders (12.6) and Jesse Vivante (12.5) for their percussion skills, Joshua de Souza (12.3) for his String Orchestra leadership and guitarists Michael Waller (12.5) and Brendan Jackson (12.6) for their original music-making. All these students have shown particular dedication through their music in a year group that boasted many participants in both instrumental and vocal ensembles.
Trinity Senior Chorale at the Senior Music Night
James Turibaka performs a solo backed by the Trinity/Mercedes String Orchestra at the Concert at the Quarry Amphitheatre
In Term 3, Miss Athena Litis, took long service leave and we welcomed Ms Ventia Webber to the department. Ms Webber ably took on the classroom curriculum and conducted the String Orchestra in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. The seamless transition from Miss Litis to Ms Webber was a credit to the professionalism of both staff members and to the diligence of the music students. In 2016 we will welcome back Ms Webber and Mr Steven Harmer as permanent members of the Music Department. Mr Harmer will be Coordinator of Brass and Ms Webber, Coordinator of Woodwind. I look forward to the contribution of skills and ideas from these very capable staff members. Performances at the ABODA and classical guitar festivals from Trinity and Trinity/Mercedes ensembles continued their strong form from recent years. Both the Wind Orchestra and String Orchestra and both classical guitar ensembles achieved an Outstanding grade. The Wind Ensemble and String Ensemble also fared well, gaining an Excellent award in their respective festival.
Darcy Port plays the French Horn at the Senior music Night
Sam Fasolo, Tomas Salleo and Kayvan Gharbi performing in the Senior Vocal Ensemble
In the Middle School Music program, both the Kodaly and Orff methodologies have been further developed in the classroom with impressive results. It has been wonderful to see improvements in students’ musicianship skills and in particular, the standard of singing across the years. As Ella Fitzgerald once said, “The only thing better than singing is more singing”.
Trinity/Mercedes String Orchestra at the Senior Music Night
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