Australian Honours Ensemble Program
The Australian Honours Ensemble Program provides an opportunity for secondary school wind, brass, percussion, string and voice students to work in an intensive environment of musical excellence, under the leadership of internationally eminent Australian conductors. We are proud to announce that five BGGS students have been offered places in the 2020 Australian Honours Ensemble Program organised by Queensland Conservatorium—Griffith University. Congratulations to these students for their outstanding achievement:
Laura Hall (11R) – Oboe
Zara Hosking (8G) – Violin
Bryleigh Parsons-Pope (12B) – Voice Soprano
Lisa Walsham (8R) – Clarinet
Vivian Wang (11L) – Flute
2020 Gala Concert
The annual BGGS Gala Concert is the major focus for our senior music groups to develop and refine their musical performance and presentation skills. Each year, the concert has been designed around a central idea for creative expression. While originally scheduled to be held at Queensland Performing Arts Centre on Sunday 23 August, we are excited to announce that the concert will now be shared with the School community as a special video production due to current government restrictions on large gatherings.
We are pleased to announce that the theme for the 2020 Gala is Ode to Joy. This year’s broad theme celebrates the joy of music, featuring compositions which are triumphant, celebratory, festive and lively. There is also scope for music which is full of charm, humour, felicity and youthfulness. While joy is a predominate feature, there will also be contrasts of more reflective pieces to represent inner peace and calm.
The 2020 Gala Concert theme also plays homage to Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary. The concert is an opportunity to present works from composers who have been influenced by Beethoven and an opportunity to feature excerpts and arrangements of his most popular composition—the 9th Symphony which was inspired by the poem, Ode to Joy, by German poet Friedrich Schiller.
This year’s virtual Gala Concert will feature all Instrumental Music students, making it the largest Gala Concert ensemble in the School’s history.
On behalf of the Instrumental Music team, I’d like to thank our music families for your unwavering support this Term. It has certainly been a challenging time for us all, but the resilience, creativity, perseverance and optimism of our music students has truly inspired us to continue to deliver some special musical moments and opportunities. We wish you all a wonderful break and look forward to another exciting and creative Term of music making and learning.
Mrs Emma Dron
Director of Instrumental Music
