Chamber Concert

On Thursday 8 June, we had more than 80 students participate in our Chamber Concert. Featuring music from some of our smaller ensembles, this intimate concert in Hender Hall provides girls who play a string or wind instrument with the opportunity to perform repertoire that is quite different from what we focus upon at the start of Term 2.

What made this concert even more special was that some of our youngest musicians, in only Years 3 and 4, were given the chance to perform and they were magnificent.

My thanks to my Music team, and all the ensemble directors involved in making this another special evening in our calendar.

Choral Eisteddfods

Wednesday 14 June saw the return of the iconic Adelaide Choral Eisteddfods, with the in-person event not having been held for the past three years!

This year, Wilderness entered Junior Dreamers and Dream Girls, and both choirs performed exceedingly well, placing first and third respectively. The sections this year were not as busy as they once have been, however our girls scored incredible high marks, with the Junior Dreamers attracting 95/100 for their repertoire combination and Dream Girls a score of 90.

Congratulations to all the girls in these two ensembles, we are very proud of you all.

Flute Eisteddfod Success

Congratulations to Jessica Mah (Year 6) for placing first in not one, but two sections of the Adelaide Flute Eisteddfods. We also had double success, with Mackenzie Wilkes (Year 9) placing third in one of these sections. Jessica is one of our youngest musicians playing a wind instrument, and to receive this recognition against students much older than her is high praise indeed.

Year 2 Strings Concert

The Year 2 Strings Concert is perhaps my favourite concert of the year; we see the culmination of two terms of hard work put in by our youngest musicians come to life. As they commence their journey at Wilderness in Year 2, every girl learns a stringed instrument and they delve into practical musical learning straight away. Watching these young six-year-olds flourish and thrive elicits a profound sense of wellbeing.

Under the wonderful direction of our new Strings coordinator, Mr Joseph Freer, the girls learned the basic fundamentals of their instruments and came together in their concert, not just as a full Year 2 String Orchestra, but with our Junior and Intermediate strings ensembles to perform ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ in the finale. Congratulations to our amazing Year 2 students, and to my strings staff.

Year 4 Band Concert

Following our Year 2 Strings Concert is the concert showcasing our Year 4 Band Immersion program. The girls in 4Z and 4R have worked diligently and consistently throughout the semester and Tuesday evening’s concert showcased their resilience and maturity as they played various short tunes demonstrating their learning.

Some of our brave Year 4s even played their first ever musical solo, and the look of joy and accomplishment on their faces is something that highlights the power of musical learning.

I know that there are some incredible young musicians in this cohort of girls and I wait with anticipation to see their musical journeys evolve.

Music in the Community

Two of our highly accomplished piano tutors recently arranged for their piano students to participate in two wonderful opportunities to perform. On Sunday 21 May, 17 of Ms Urszula Gruszewski's students had the honour of performing on the piano at Adelaide Government House. The distinguished presence of Her Excellency, the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, made the event even more special for the girls. The public in attendance showered the girls with numerous positive comments, expressing their sheer enjoyment at hearing them play.

Across the past two Sundays, numerous students of Ms Ann Vanlint took a unique opportunity of performing on the piano at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, entertaining patients and visitors as they came and went in the busy foyer. Having any opportunity to perform publicly when you are developing your musicianship and performance skills is something we encourage all students to take up. I am very proud of the girls for taking these challenges on, and grateful to my staff for presenting such opportunities to our girls.

Finale (for Term 2)

In one of the busiest second terms I have had at Wilderness, with over 11 events on our performance calendar, my team of staff have truly earned their three-week break. Term 3 is another busy one, however, with the ABODA Bands and Orchestra Festival in Week 4, closely followed by our Annual Showcase of Music—this year being held in the Adelaide Town Hall for the first time.

Wilderness School presents ‘Stage and Screen’ showcase on Thursday 31 August at 6.00pm. Please place this date into your diaries, and ensure your daughters continue with their practice across the three-week break to ensure they are ready to play/sing in Week 1 of Term 3.