Concerts and collaborations
by Matt Zambon, Head of Music
Semester 2 has been an action-packed season of musical feats, showcasing the exceptional talent, dedication and collaborative atmosphere of all our Penrhos bands and ensembles. Featuring multiple guest artists, solo and ensemble recitals and festival performances, there has been no shortage of musical excitement. Read on to find out all the awesome things our young musicians have been up to this Semester!
Out and About
ABODA Festival and AJEA Jazz Festival
A high note for our Junior and Senior Wind and String Orchestras, Camerata Strings ensemble and both Basie and Coltrane Jazz bands! Special mention to the Wind Orchestra, String Orchestra and Camerata Strings for achieving the highest possible score of ‘outstanding’ for their performances.
WAAPA Visit
Year 9-11 classroom music students travelled to WAAPA to engage with lecturers and students and find out more about life as a university music student. Watching performance practice classes gave students a unique insight into the rigorous rehearsal process required at this high level. A highlight was experiencing WAAPA’s diploma in music artistry classes, as students put on performances in various contemporary ensembles and demonstrated their skills as performers and multi-instrumentalists!
Penrock Rocks The Milk Bar
Junior School rockers “Penrock” and “The Mockingjays” took to the Milk Bar stage as part of the Perth Young Rockers series. A great experience for all involved as the musicians learn their way around a professional stage and interact with music industry professionals and sound and lighting experts.
Collaborations!
Wesley Brass Day
Brass students hopped across to Wesley College for a day of intensive workshopping, rehearsing and performing.
Wesley Rocks Freo.Social
F Sharp (Penrhos Rock/Contemporary band) hit the famed Freo. Social stage! Alongside Wesley College rock bands, these awesome musos gave an electrifying performance, making their mark on the Freo music scene. Performing songs from punk to synth-pop, we look forward to more performances from F Sharp, as well as a few new Penrhos Rock Bands next year!
Wesley Penrhos Chamber Choir Season
The Wesley and Penrhos Chamber Choir returned for a Term 3-4 season culminating in a concert at the breathtaking St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth. Performing challenging repertoire independently and alongside the professional choir, “Aurora”, these talented singers filled the cathedral with sound!
Junior School
Year 5 Band and Year 2 String Concerts
Two of our most rewarding concerts on our calendar, the Year 2 String concert and Year 5 Band concert took place in Term 4. These concerts are an opportunity for parents, family and friends to see the result of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication to the learning of a new instrument!
Kindy – Year 1 Teatime Concert
Our littlest musicians performed with pizzaz at their Teatime Concert, making it a fitting end to a fantastic series of concerts from our junior musicians.
Junior School Spring Showcase
Junior School music ensembles flooded the Rixon Theatre stage as they performed a tremendous selection of music, bringing smiles and cheer to all their friends, family and fans! For the Year 6 students, this was their most significant performance yet as this marks their final performances in Junior School ensembles before they take on Secondary School Music! Congratulations goes to all our Year 6 Music award winners for their many years of dedicated service and countless hours of rehearsals and practice.
Junior School Eisteddfod
With everything from rock drummers to classical bassoon performances, this day was packed with musical variety. Every student challenging themselves to play their very best resulted in wonderous performances by all. We are so proud of our young musicians!
Secondary School
Jazz @ Llew Woodford
In swinging style, our Coltrane Jazz, Basie and Rock/Contemporary Bands took to the stage as the Llew Woodford Function Centre was transformed into a New York-style speakeasy. Our brother school also appeared with their Generations in Jazz champion band, “The Messengers.”
Music Gala Night
‘A Festival of Cultures’ was our theme for the 2024 Music Gala Night, and what a festival it was! Featuring all of our Senior School ensembles as well as pre-show entertainment provided by some of our talented Junior School musicians, the evening was a celebration of music and culture. Special mention to the collaboration between Chorale and Wind Orchestra members for their epic rendition of Baba Yetu, as well as the contemporary/rock band and Camerata Strings for taking us back to the early 2000s and all it’s pop-string glory!
ATAR Music Recital
Year 12 ATAR musicians completed their high school music journey with beautifully crafted performances of their full ATAR programs in the College Chapel. Our congratulations to these dedicated musicians and we wish them the very best for their final ATAR result!
Jen Winley Incursion
Associate conductor of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) and Penrhos alum, Jen Winley (Class of 1995) inspired our Year 10-12 classroom musicians with her story. From starting her journey as an orchestral percussionist, travelling around Australia and the world, to training as a music teacher, working in schools and all the way to her experience as conductor of both WAYO and WASO.
Holly Broadbent Organ Workshop
Penrhos alum, current Yale University Organ student and former Penrhos Music Scholarship holder, Holly Broadbent (Class of 2015) returned for an incredible workshop and lunchtime performance on our College’s fantastic organ.
