On Thursday 16 June, Generations in Jazz (GIJ) held a Gala Concert, live streamed from Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre in Mount Gambier. Hosted by James Morrison, the Gala featured past GIJ musicians and showcased the scholarship finalists for 2022—one of whom was our very own vocal tutor, Miss Grace Mensforth! But the main attraction was certainly the award announcements for the National Stage Band and Vocal Ensemble Awards.

The first exciting moment was when Wilderness was announced as having won the Division 3 Vocals … a division we did not enter! It came to light quickly that they had gotten these divisions around the wrong way, but it did diminish the win slightly for our Jazz Incorporated Choir, who were unsure at the time of what was going on. First thing Friday morning, it was confirmed that Jazz Incorporated had in fact won their respective Treble Voices category in Division 2!

At the end of the evening came the Division 1 announcements, and for the first time, they had split the categories of voices in Division 1, highlighting even more of the wonderful choirs we have in our country. Treble Voices choirs are always highly competitive though, and therefore it was a wonderful moment to be crowned national winners in this advanced division!

The girls in our stage bands did not place this year, but it is most important to share that both bands entered a division higher than we usually do, with Big Band 1 entering the competitive Division 2 with 13 highly advanced bands. Big Band 2 entered Division 3 for the first time, and competed against 23 national bands. I am most proud of their determination and grit to push themselves to these higher levels and commend them on holding their own in what was very tough competition.

All of our girls in the choirs and bands are to be acknowledged and congratulated on their efforts in what can only be described as the hardest year yet in our ensemble program. Battling their own illnesses, and illness-related absentees on a weekly basis from their band and choir members, the girls’ respect and support of each other is what makes me most impressed. Their flexibility and determination to keep going is beyond admirable, and I am very proud to represent these girls in the Wilderness Music Department.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank the directors who worked tirelessly beside our girls. Their care and support of the students have meant so much and they wouldn’t have reached these incredible milestones without them.

Ms Cassie Pope – Big Band 1

Mr Damien Hurn – Big Band 2

Ms Joanna Tropeano – Jazz Choir and Jazz Incorporated.

Rotary Concert – Walkerville RSL

For over 20 years, Wilderness has been presenting an annual Winter Concert at the Walkerville Town Hall for the Rotary Club. This special connection in our local community is one the girls are very committed to, and I thank all the students who played this past Sunday 19 June.

The concert featured some of our smaller ensembles, as well as a delightful set from powerhouse sister duo, Sarah (Year 7) and Jessica Mah (Year 5). These two talented girls also played in the recent Adelaide Eisteddfods and placed a highly respected second in their duet category.

Year 12 student Isabelle Yu played a breathtaking cello solo, where you could hear a pin drop, and our ever-growing Senior Clarinet Ensemble played an advanced piece called ‘Joviality’ which certainly lived up to its name.

We would like to thank the Rotary Club for once again inviting us, and a big thanks to our girls for graciously giving up some of their weekend time.

Year 2 Strings and Year 4 Band Concerts

On Tuesday 21 June, our smallest musicians held their first concert at Wilderness, with the Year 2 Strings Concert. All semester the girls have participated in the String program, where they get the opportunity to learn a string instrument from a qualified, professional musician and educator. Their hard work culminates in a live concert, which we were so pleased to be able to host in Newman Theatre for the first time, making it a very exciting evening for our little musicians.

Following the Year 2s, the Year 4s took to the stage, ready to ‘blow’ their parents away with the work they had achieved on their selected band instruments. Similarly to the Year 2 program, the Year 4s are offered an opportunity to play a band instrument for a semester and undertake small group lessons, as well as ensemble sessions.

The power of learning a musical instrument at this young age cannot be underestimated, with research demonstrating strong links between cognitive development, increased literacy and numeracy skills, language development, executive function, motor recognition and auditory processing skills. These are developments that will aid our students not only in their musical education, but in their general education and adult lives. Further to this, life skills such as critical and creative thinking, social skills, risk taking and enhanced collaboration are transferable to wherever our young students’ journeys lead—so heed the musical call, and enrol your daughter to commence her musical journey next semester.