Music
Music Centre Opening – Week of Celebrations
Throughout last week, the school celebrated the opening of the John Roberts Centre, home to the Music Department, with a selection of morning, lunchtime and afternoon concerts in the new performance space named the Edwards Auditorium. Thanks to our many students for their excellent performances and the various staff members who conducted these ensembles in presenting a broad range of performance styles and contexts for our audiences.
The official opening event on Wednesday evening, a collaborative evening shared alongside the Visual Arts Exhibition, represented the rich breadth of artistic talents within our school community. The opening concert featured a number of small ensemble performances alongside speeches from our Principal, Dr Peter Lennox, Chair of the Board, Mrs Glenda McLoughlin and Founding Trustee, Mr John Roberts.
This concert concluded with the Australian Premiere of a commissioned work titled Sonnets to Orpheus, composed by Redlander (2013) Mr Jack Frerer. This creative collaboration grew out of a discussion with Jack back in 2014 while visiting the Juilliard School in New York. The conversation transpired into developing a collaboration with the Redlands Music and English Departments, where Jack and his English Extension teacher, Dr Jane Sloan, searched for a poem that represented the School as an important place for learning; and where from learning, comes new discoveries and new journeys. In reading through various translations, the work that resonated with Jack was the version translated by Dr Anita Burrows and Joanna Macy. In connecting with these educators, Jack’s instinctive observations of the musicality in the translations was correct, as both the teachers were musicians themselves. A recording of this work will be made available to the School community at the end of the year. Below is the text of the poem by Rainer Maria Rilke, 1922 (translation by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy 2009).
Sonnets to Orpheus
Book 1, Number 21
Spring! And Earth is like a child who has learned many poems by heart. For the trouble of that long learning she wins the prize.
Her teacher was strict.
We loved the white of the old man’s beard. Now we can ask her the many names of green, of blue, and she knows them, she knows them!
Earth, school is out now. You’re free to play with the children. We’ll catch you, joyous Earth. The happiest will catch you!
All that the teacher taught her—the many thoughts pressed now into roots and long tough stems: she sings! She sings!
Senior Campus
Vocal Competition Monday 24 September (Week 9)
Adjudicator: Mrs Jacki Cooper, Jazz and Big Band Singer, Educator
Jacki Cooper has been a regular feature on the Australian jazz scene since 1990 and after travelling much of the world, now resides in Sydney. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Voice from Adelaide University.
While studying for her music degree, Jacki embarked on an even more important form of study, performing with renowned jazz composer, Dave Dallwitz. Through Dave, Jacki also had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Graeme Bell and Ade Monsborough. While working for the renowned Stanford Jazz Workshop at Stanford University in the USA in 1994, Jacki studied with US jazz singers Mark Murphy, Kitty Margolis, Madeline Eastman and Nancy King, and gigged regularly with local musicians. She recorded a radio program on Fog in the City Radio, and was also invited to San Antonio, Texas to sing with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band at the famous Landing Jazz Club on the Riverwalk.
In 2003, Jacki was the featured resident vocalist on the inaugural season for the cruise ship, Oceania Regatta, cruising around Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean. In 2005, Jacki was invited to perform at Sax’n Art Jazz Club in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam with world-class saxophonist, Tran Manh Tuan. In 2007, Jacki and John Morrison toured China, performing at JZ Jazz Club and the House of Jazz and Blues in Shanghai. The tour highlight was a performance at the Oriental Arts Centre with the Shanghai Symphony Big Band. In March 2010, Jacki was awarded Best Jazz Vocal at the Musicoz Awards.
Jacki is a regular at jazz festivals around the country, including Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Darling Harbour International Jazz Festival, Manly Jazz Festival and Thredbo Jazz Festival. She performs with John Morrison with their quartet, quintet and with John’s big band, “Swing City”.
We are all looking forward to hearing all the student’s wonderful performances and celebrating in their success as Redlands Senior Vocal Competition finalists for 2018.
Instrumental Competition Auditions (Week 8)
Auditions will be held in Week 8 on Wednesday 12 September. Please note the applications close on Friday 7 September. Copies of piano accompaniment scores must be submitted to Music Reception at the time of the application submission.
Junior Campus
Musicianship Classes
Students who are currently learning an instrument and who would like to further extend their knowledge of Music Theory are encouraged to join the Musicianship class on Tuesday mornings (7.30-8.15am).
Spring Fair Yrs 5-6 Rock Band Performance
With the Spring Fair fast approaching on Saturday 15 September, the Redlands Rock Program (Yrs 5-12) will be showcasing their music talents at this event. Schedule of performers will be published in Week 8.
Mr Darren Kuilenburg
Coordinator of Music
seniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9820
