Discovery Concert
On Tuesday 20 May, the music students from BDSC attended the annual Discovery Concert presented by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. This year’s concert explored a range of compositional techniques used to create music, such as scales, time signatures and rhythms, and the importance of these devices in the mood of the music. There was a wide selection of music performed, with pieces from the romantic era like Strauss’s Oboe Concerto and Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1 to a more modern original work by Grace Wellik, a Young Composer-in-Residence. Nearing the end of the concert, we were given the opportunity to take part in an interactive composition titled Compose Yourself! by James Stephenson, where, with a democratic vote of a raised hand, we were able to collectively compose our own piece. We left the venue with the tune of a melancholic yet lively tango dancing away in our heads.
~ Wei En Huang 11J5
Listening to the Discovery Concert allowed me to realise the roof of composition is as high as the sky, and for me to have an even miniscule chance of achieving a similar level, I must work incredibly hard. It lets me appreciate the effort put into each orchestral piece and admire how something so difficult seems so trivial when it is played on the stage.
The concert let me hear the finesse in things like the accompaniment and the music itself, hidden sounds and notes that we miss but work to make the music better. It was great!
~ Suhan Cho 12B1
Orchestra and Jazz Band Workshop
On Saturday 17 May, the members of the Orchestra and Jazz Band gathered for sectionals and rehearsals. In the morning, three musicians from the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra led sectionals for the violins, cellos, double bass, and the flutes. They worked hard for an hour and a half before we shared morning tea and began the orchestra rehearsal. In the afternoon, the Jazz Band arrived and rehearsed for two hours. Overall it was a very successful day and a lot of progress was made learning the music and developing ensemble skills.
~ Ms L Treneman, Head of Music
Play It Strange
On Monday 19 May, Evie Dwyer-Leech, Rei and Mike Chunn from the Play It Strange Foundation came to share information about the Songwriting Competitions with the Level 2 and 3 Music class. It was very informative with students able to ask questions and discuss techniques for starting a song. They also listened to some of the students’ songs and encouraged them with their songwriting.
