Visual Arts

Painter Rob Davis at the opening of his art exhibition, Kerala and its People

Year 10 excursion to Sculpture by the Sea

Joseph and Helen Milner at the the Student Art Exhibition

CATHOLIC PERFORMING ARTS

144 MUSIC

MUSIC

Over the years, Trinity College has commissioned new pieces of music for its choirs. Songs have been written for our Years 5/6 Choir, Middle School Vocal Ensemble, Senior Chorale and Trinity/Mercedes Chorale. All have been composed by musicians who reside in the eastern states. This year, it was a great privilege to sing a new setting of the Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei from the Mass, composed by Trinity College Old Boy, Perry Joyce (’06).

Perry was indeed a member of the Chorale while at Trinity, as well as studying composition and piano. The work cleverly integrates motives from the College hymn, In Nomine Domine, into the setting. We hope Perry will complete the full Mass setting by writing a Kyrie, Gloria and Credo for the Senior Chorale in 2019; something we can integrate into our College Masses.

This year, we welcomed Ms Laura Walker to replace Ms Ventia Webber who was on maternity leave. I sincerely thank Ms Walker for her outstanding professionalism as a teacher and her ability to fit straight into the role of classroom teacher, ensemble director and woodwind coordinator. On other staffing news, Mrs Dorothy Slawomirski retires after nearly three decades of piano teaching at the College. This has been a remarkable period of teaching piano to the highest levels. Mrs Slawomirski was Perry Joyce’s piano teacher while he was a Trinity student. Eugene Marshall (’05), another contemporary of Perry Joyce was also a successful piano student of that era and now a professional composer and music teacher. After teaching many successful piano students in both the Junior School and Senior School, we wish Dorothy the very best for her years of retirement.

Congratulations are extended to the following groups and individuals who were awarded shields in their respective sections of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival: Senior Vocal Ensemble (Sacred Choral Music), Declan Ryan (10.1) and Zacary Lee (10.4) (Secondary Instrumental Duet), Brett Hassett (11.1) (Instrumental Solo), Senior Chorale (Secondary Choral and Original Sacred Composition), Contemporary Chamber Ensemble (Instrumental Ensemble). Matthew Loo (9.1) (Solo Piano), The Pirates of Penzance cast and crew (Music Theatre), Trinity/Mercedes Wind Orchestra (Concert Band). This has been one of our best performing years in the 29 years of the festival. Special thanks goes to the Year 12 students who put every possible effort into their preparations for the festival and led by example with their outstanding performances. Basil Gerad Cyril’s (12.7) own composition, Divertimenti I and II, also conducted by the composer was a highlight for me along with Joseph Pinto (12.8) and David Pham’s (12.8) clarinet duet and Joseph Eng’s (12.6) marimba solo. These and other Senior School performances that do not necessarily win shields but advance to the play-off stage were indicative of the high standards and depth of ability shown by students in this year’s festival. Overall, Trinity continues to perform to the highest levels in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. For the fifteenth consecutive year, we have been awarded the Zenith Music Award for the most outstanding school in the festival. This is a remarkable achievement of which all our Music, Dance and Drama students should be proud. A full list of awards is listed separately in this annual.

Performances at the ABODA and state jazz and classical guitar festivals from Trinity and Trinity/Mercedes ensembles were important adjudicated events. For most of these ensembles, these are additional festival performances where much is learnt from national and international adjudicators. A key hallmark of these festivals is the learning and performance of quality repertoire that can be gauged against the standards expected by high level adjudicators. Congratulations to all performers who participated in and indeed flourished at these festivals.

Classroom music continues to thrive at Trinity. Engagement with the Kodaly concept of music education is strong and the numbers of boys engaging with music through singing and active classroom music making is growing on top of already solid numbers. The integration of this approach through the instrumental teaching program, instrumental ensemble rehearsals and choir repertoire continues to progress. We also have boys who continue to show interest in composition in Western Art Music styles of the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries who are producing outstanding work.

Dr Robert Braham

Dr Robert Braham Director of Music