Year 12 Formal Dinner string quartet performance
BGGS String Quartet, comprising Holly Xu (9O), Zara Hosking (10G), Allie Na (9H), and E Lyn Won (9B), performed for guests as they arrived at the Year 12 Formal Dinner, at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday. The girls performed works from the Classical and Romantic eras to set a dignified and formal tone for the sumptuous dinner. Their performance was highly professional and appreciated by staff and students alike.
Queensland Conservatorium tertiary preparation workshop
From Monday 27 June to Friday 1 July, the Queensland Conservatorium (South Bank) will be hosting its annual tertiary preparation workshop. The workshop covers topics such as entry requirements, audition skills and techniques, interview tips, theory, aural fundamentals, and much more. The workshop is an excellent opportunity for students who are considering a future in the music industry to discover some of the tertiary preparation and courses available to pursue this goal. Further information and registration details can be found here.
Recruitment drive
We are looking for students who might be interested in playing one of the rarer instruments in wind bands. We are looking specifically for students to play Tuba, Euphonium, and Bassoon. If you already play an instrument and are interested in the possibility of advancing through our ensemble structure quicker than you may do on your current instrument, we want to hear from you.
The ability to read, or willingness to learn to read, bass clef is a distinct advantage. The desire to be awesome is not negotiable.
If you would like to explore one of these instruments a little further, please contact Ms Porter aporter@bggs.qld.edu.au
Arts Fest
Many of our ensembles will be performing throughout Arts Fest in Week 4. All our jazz ensembles, Bartok and Albinoni Strings, Flute Loops, and Gypsy Band will feature in performances across the week and provide outstanding entertainment for their fellow students during lunch breaks. Students are encouraged to come along and support their Grammar sisters at their performances.
Students will be able to purchase badges for Arts Fest
Performance Week (Band)
Week 5, Term 2 is Performance Week (Band)—students have been covering repertoire for these performances over Term 1 and should be progressing through their work towards this goal. We are sure that many students have been practicing diligently and are now putting the final touches on their performance.
Music Competitions
Some of our more experienced musicians will be participating in the Prizes and Championships in Week 4 of this term. Rehearsals with accompanists started this week, allowing students to practice.
Our Prizes and Championships are a wonderful display of the many and varied talented students who perform in our more senior ensembles.
Please ensure that your teacher has all your accompaniment music where applicable.
Dorothy Rae (10G) rehearsing with BGGS accompanist Mrs Kerry Nian
Madison Beltrame (11L) rehearsing with BGGS accompanist Mrs Kathy Sander
10 things that require zero talent:
- being on time
- work ethic
- effort
- body language
- energy
- attitude
- passion
- being coachable
- doing extra
- being prepared.
The above quote has been doing the rounds on social media recently, and it has a direct correlation to Instrumental Music. Often, we readily identify and praise the most talented or successful members of our community, and rightfully so. We are sometimes, perhaps inadvertently, dismissive of the reasons behind these people’s achievements—shelving their accomplishments as ‘because they have a talent for it’ or are portrayed as ‘an overnight success’. And in doing so, discounting the undoubtable years of effort, resilience, tenacity, and skill development, perhaps leads us to a misunderstanding of what made that person successful.
Attitudes towards, and media portrayal of, successful people can lead many young people to develop feelings of inadequacy. ‘I’ll never be that good’, ‘I could never do what he/she does’, ‘Doing that would terrify me’, are all catch-phrases that we have, no doubt, heard from many young people.
The ten elements mentioned above are achievable for every person and can have a direct impact on a person’s view of the world, their level of achievement, and how they are perceived by others. The ten elements are also an encouragement to step outside of our comfort zone—risk-free.
When young people realise that they can achieve amazing things by simply involving themselves fully, they begin to develop the invaluable personal resources of self-esteem, confidence, and self-belief. These attributes are central to success and enjoyment in any human endeavour.
“The woods would be quiet if no bird sang but the one that sang best.”
― Henry Van Dyke
MSG News
Calling any BGGS community members who are professional (or professional level) musicians and would be prepared to perform at a brand-new MSG fundraising event! We are bringing together music staff and parents for a very special celebration of music on 8 October. This evening will be both a concert and a social gathering with music parents. The musical program is being curated by classical guitarist, and Year 8 parent, Karin Schaupp, so please reach out on the email below stating your instrument/voice and your preferred style of music.
We would also love to hear from any parents who would like to assist us in planning the evening. If you have experience or contacts in event planning, decorations, or catering, please also contact us by email.
We look forward to seeing more new faces at our next meeting, which is in Week 5 of Term 2—Monday 16 May at 6 pm.
Please contact us at msgbggs@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Looking Ahead
- QYMA—Friday 6 May (Bartok Strings)
- Arts Fest—Week 4, May 9-13
- Instrumental Music Competitions—Week 4
- MSG Meeting—Monday 16 May, 6 pm
- Artists in Concert—Thursday 19 May
- QYMA—Friday 20 May (Euphonix)
- Cathedral Concert—Saturday 4 June
