Music 2015

Mr Robert Braham Director of Music Miss Athena Litis

Secondary Music Teacher Trinity Senior Chorale at the Senior Music Night

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.

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.

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”.

James Turibaka performs a solo backed by the Trinity/Mercedes String Orchestra at the Concert at the Quarry Amphitheatre

Darcy Port plays the French Horn at the Senior music Night Sam Fasolo, Tomas Salleo and Kayvan Gharbi performing in the Senior Vocal Ensemble

All Year 7 students have explored a myriad of musical concepts and genres along with regular hymn-singing practice in preparation for Mass each term. It has been a dynamic and vibrant year of music-making alongside Mrs Ann Clarke, with many delightful moments all round.

Highlights of this year include seeing the Year 8s compose their first composition using the computer program, Sibelius. This was in the form of a percussion duet, which they then performed to the class with a partner.

The Year 9s kept us very entertained with their compositions, which required them to create two verses of text and set it to a rhythm and melody. The Year 10s composed their first classical minuet for cello and violin allowing them to explore the effective practice of the classical form and stylistic characteristics of that era. All year groups performed either a two, three and in some cases, even a four part sing-and-play canon of a given piece of music. This is a task which requires highly complex coordination skills. It is always remarkable to witness such interesting and inventive ideas from students of all year levels.

Performing Arts Festival for Catholic Schools and Colleges

Students across all year groups once again excelled themselves at this year’s Performing Arts Festival for Catholic Schools and Colleges. With seven section wins in the Senior School and one in the Junior School, 2015 was very close to the feats of 2008 and 2014.

Special mention goes to the following individuals, duets and ensembles who won their section: Trinity/Mercedes String Orchestra (Instrumental Ensemble), Trinity Senior Chorale (Secondary Choral), Years 5/6 Choir (Primary Choral Singing), Swing Band I (Big Band/Jazz Combo), Kayvan Gharbi (11.8) (Secondary Instrumental Solo), James Newcombe (12.5) (Secondary Pianoforte/Pipe Organ), Joshua de Souza (11.3) and Kayvan Gharbi (Secondary Instrumental Duet), Michael Waller (12.5) and Lachlan Harders (12.6) (Contemporary Band), Joshua de Souza (Chapman Scholarship for Secondary Strings). Of particular note, this was the first time that Trinity had won both the primary and secondary choral sections in the one year.

All students who participated must be congratulated on their hard work. The many honourable mentions and section wins has enabled Trinity to be awarded the Zenith Award for Secondary Metropolitan Schools and Colleges for the twelfth consecutive year. A full list of performing arts results is contained in this annual.

Visiting Artist Program

In 2015, we have been privileged to premiere a choral work written for the Trinity/Mercedes Chorale by Australian composer, Dan Walker. Ark of My Hopes, Ark of My Dreams is a challenging work for SATB choir, set to the words of poet, Sidney Lanier. After many rehearsals putting the piece together, Dan Walker flew in from Melbourne to apply the finishing touches and to be present at the premiere performance on Senior Music Night. The work stayed in the repertoire of the combined chorale for Semester

Thomas Salleo at the Senior Music Night

Artist in Residence Mr Dan Walker at the Senior Music Night

James Newcombe plays the new harpsichord at the Senior Music Night

2 performances in 2015 and may be a part of the tour repertoire to the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2016. This was a magnificent project and follows on from our previous commissions in 2013 when Paul Jarman composed Let Go of My Hand for the Senior Chorale and Spirit, Curiosity, Opportunity for the Years 5/6 Choir.

The Middle School Chorale also worked on a song by Dan Walker. Out There has a wonderful Australian flavour, lots of rhythmic energy and enough intricacy to challenge the chorale. Dan Walker’s work with the Middle School Chorale on this piece was inspirational for the boys, who were impressive with their musical focus and ability to learn quickly. This work was also showcased at the Performing Arts Festival for Catholic Schools and Colleges in late August 2015, where it was very well received.

Also working with the senior boys in 2015 was international choral conductor, Jennifer Tham. Using David Hamilton’s spiritual I’m a-Going to Join The Band, Jennifer worked on creating a darker sound for the Senior Chorale performance as well as introducing some very physical breathing methods and reinforcing the need for good singing posture.

To have two such eminent musicians work with a large number of boys in quick succession in Term 2 was a remarkable experience for those involved. The quality of singing exhibited by the boys was a credit to their hard work over the terms leading up to these workshops and performances.

Trinity has again been fortunate to host chamber ensemble, Magellan, for its second concert series in 2015. The playing composition of the trio has changed this year but the quality has remained world class. In Term 3 the String Orchestra was treated to a workshop with new Magellan cellist, Sacha McCulloch, who explored string playing technique through the Holst Suite. We are fortunate in that Magellan will return for a third season in 2016 when we hope the music students will again be able to learn much from members of this ensemble.

Senior Music Night

Parents, students and staff who attended the Trinity Senior School Music Night on Friday 26 June were treated to an evening of musical excellence. With the Fazioli piano in Gibney Hall for the first time, the new harpsichord unveiled and the premiere of Ark of My Hope, Ark of My Dreams, commissioned by Trinity College and Mercedes College and composed by Mr Dan Walker for the Trinity/ Mercedes Chorale, the evening was a triumph of musical talent. Even the Classical Guitar Ensemble 1 overcame being stuck in the lift before coming on stage to play the complex Cuban Landscape with Rain by Leo Brouwer with great expertise. One of the many highlights played by the Trinity/Mercedes String Orchestra was Divertimenti for Strings I. Pizzicato an original piece written and conducted by Year 11 student Luis Tasso Santos (11.1). This followed the Vivaldi Harpsichord Concerto in A major with soloist, James Newcombe (12.5).

Dr Robert Braham and Miss Athena Litis Director of Music and Secondary Music Teacher

Louis Tasso Santos conducts Divertimenti for Strings for the Trinity/Mercedes String Orchestra at the Senior Music Night

Lachlan Harders member of Concussion at the Senior Music Night

Guitar Ensemble I at the Senior Music Night

Catholic Performing Arts Awards

Kayvan Gharbi winner of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Award in the Secondary Instrumental Solo Section James Newcombe with the Fr John Harte Jesuit Award in the Secondary Pianoforte Solo/Duet/Pipe Organ Section of this year’s Festival Joshua de Souza with the Chapman Scholarship award for Secondary Solo Strings

Secondary instrumental ensemble Xavier Adamos, Ashton Cooper, Sholto Foss and Mrs Ann Clarke with the Brigidine Sisters’ Award for Primary Choral Singing.

Kayvan Gharbi and Joshua de Souza winners of the Dr Peter Tannock Award in the Instrumental Duet Secondary Section Lachlan Harders and Michael Waller with the Knights of the Southern Cross Award in the Contemporary Band Section Lachlan Harders and Thomas Salleo representatives for the Trinity College Swing Band I – Christian Brothers’ Award in the Big Band/Jazz Combo Section