Harmonies from Holy Trinity: College Music Gala

From the earliest records of humanity, we know music has been engrained in the very fibres of our being. The process of creativity through sound has provided the backdrop to celebrations, ceremonies, and gatherings for centuries. In our current world, its role has remained constant throughout changing ages. The College's annual Music Gala follows suit with the celebration of beauty in sound, collaborative creativity, and preciseness in honing a craft. Set in the grandeur of Parnell's Holy Trinity Cathedral, our College ensembles entertained an audience of family, friends, staff, and peers.

As guests filed into the cathedral, our two rock bands, 3 Day Rain and Drop Owt, provided a pre-concert offering and a taste of what was to come. Our Arts Prefects, Mackenzie Alley and Josh Evangelidakis, opened the night and guided guests through the night's musical tour.

Starting with the All Comers Symphonic Band, led by Mr Matt Baker and Mr Tom Chester, guests heard a pair of pieces. Philip Sparke's A Malvern Suite was the opener, followed by Morning Madness which captured ears with recognisable classical melodies accompanied by a comedic skit during the performance. The Symphony Orchestra, directed by Miss Mary Lin, followed, performing four pieces from their repertoire. This auditioned ensemble is the premier orchestra at the College, and several of their arrangements featured talented soloists from the group.

The String Ensemble, directed by Ms Miranda Hutton, was the next to perform. They played two contrasting pieces, Beethoven's Allegretto and Bernstein's syncopated Dazon from 'Fancy Free'. The Concert Band, another premier auditioned ensemble, then played three selections. A highlight of the night came from this band, as Marimba soloist Jason Wong captivated the audience with his intricate four-mallet melody in Monti's Czardas.

The brass section shined in the latter half of the concert programme, with the Stage Band and Big Band, directed by Mr Albert Lee, finishing the ensemble performances. Stage Band performed two songs with bluesy vocals from Eva Paton. Big Band, our premiere auditioned band, were the last to perform. They selected a trio from their library of music to offer the audience: Count Basie Orchestra's Shiny Stockings, Hoagy Carmichael's The Nearness of You, and finally, Duke Ellington's Caravan.

The Gala also provided our Senior Solo Music Competition finalists with an audience for their final round of performances. Section winners Charles Sang (piano), Josh Evangelidakis (vocals), Imogen Perry (clarinet), and Amy Chen (violin) left their souls on the stage, pouring passion and craft into every note. At the end of the night, it was announced that Charles Sang won the 2023 competition.

We are grateful for the opportunity for each of our ensembles to entertain our community and have a practice run in the cathedral before going into the KBB Music Festival the following week. Our music department has produced some incredible work this year, and if the Gala was anything to go by, it was a statement of the success to come. Thank you to the technicians, directors of ensembles, parents, teachers, and of course, the dedicated students who are the heartbeat of the music program at the College.