Orchestra
On Monday 12 August, the BDSC orchestra, under the direction of our conductor Ms Treneman, had the privilege of competing in the KBB Music Festival held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. We performed four pieces, beginning with a powerful performance of Marche Militaire by Franz Schubert. This was followed by a more reflective and lyrical piece, Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Our performance then transitioned to the dramatic and emotive ‘Movement 2’ from Symphony No.6 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, before concluding with the iconic James Bond Theme by Monty Norman.
Throughout the performance, I felt immensely grateful for the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of music. The festival brought together orchestras from various schools, each displaying their unique styles and interpretations of their pieces. I believed that each group performed beautifully, making the experience more enriching.
Our orchestra’s performance was a collective effort that showcased the hard work and dedication of each member. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ms Treneman for providing the BDSC orchestra with this incredible opportunity and to all my fellow orchestra members who contributed to our amazing performance at the festival. Our combined efforts resulted in a beautiful symphony. It is a true work of art that we created together.
~ Rainie Tang 11B13
Jazz Band
On Wednesday 14 August, a cluster of students, band directors, and parents crowded into St Mary’s-In-Holy Trinity, the home of the annual KBB Jazz Band acts. Attending that night was the BDSC Jazz Band led by Mr Hamish Arthur. They had prepared a program of five pieces: ‘Pass the Hot Sauce’ by Brad Ciechomski, ‘Gospel’ by Carl Strommen, ‘Uptown Throwdown’ by Zachary Smith, ‘Coral Reef’ by Neal Hefti, and ‘Chalupa’ by Gregory Yasinitsky. Their time in the spotlight was not put to waste, as they played with confidence and a true love for all styles of jazz. All groups were exceptional onstage, and the night itself was truly a memorable one. As a result of their success, the proud BDSC Jazz Band earned a bronze award.
~ Tanvi Lad 10S4
Honours’ Orchestra
As part of the Music Festival, the Honours’ Programme is held on the Friday evening. Students from across the participating schools are selected to join a large Orchestra or Jazz Band to rehearse two works before a short concert. This year BDSC had three students selected for the orchestra: Celia Chan 13E2 (Violin I), Mido Kanno 12S4 (French Horn) and Rick Zhao 10J5 (Violin I). They were performing Mars – ‘The Bringer of War and Venus’ – ‘The Bringer of Peace’ from The Planets by Gustav Holst.
Mido wrote about her experience: I am grateful that I had an amazing opportunity to attend the KBB Honours’ concert. There were many students that played beautiful music and I really admired them. I only stayed there for a short time, but this experience was one of the most impressive memories I had in New Zealand. I will still cherish this precious memory after I return to Japan.
~ Ms Treneman