COLLIE Senior High School hosted its End of Year Music Concert on Friday night, which was attended by a packed audience.
The students have a lesson once a week and join the band or guitar ensemble when ready.
They had been working hard all year in preparation for the concert.
The night featured solos, duos and small piece ensembles on a variety of instruments such as guitars, flutes, trumpets, trombones and the french horn.
This year there also was a vocal item by some year 7 and year 8 music students.
Classroom music teacher Mrs Esther Saunders discovered that in addition to playing an instrument, the students had some singing ability and they ably performed Like I’m Gonna Lose You by Meghan Trainor.
“It is fantastic to see such depth of talent in our students and it is great that we have some budding singers coming through the school,” Collie Senior principal Domenic Camera said.
“Our arts staff working remarkably hard to develop our students in all contexts across the Arts and I congratulate them on their work in the area of music development and appreciation.
“We also welcome our new music students joining the school from 2016.”
After intermission the band and guitar ensembles performed.
The guitar ensemble, directed by Elizabeth Lindsay and comprising of eight students performed Lesson Three by Veracini, Volta, an Elizabethan work, and Steppes.
For some of these students it was the first time they had performed publicly and they played to a very high standard.
The Collie Combined Schools Band directed by Jemma Whelan played I’m a Believer by The Monkees and What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction.
They were then joined by students from various primary schools who had attended a one day workshop at the high school the week before.
The students workshopped four songs and then were invited to perform them.
They played Six Note Blues by O’Reilly and Williams, Lion Sleeps Tonight by Soloman Linda, Graveyard Boogie by Anne Williams and Power Rock by Queen and arranged by Michael Sweeney.
They had the audience dancing in their seats. Finally some students from Donnybrook joined the Collie Combined Schools Band to perform some pieces that they had played at various competitions throughout the year.
The Collie and Donnybrook Combined Schools Band are directed by Ms Jemma Whelan and Mrs Wendy Armstrong.
They played A Long Way to Tipperary by Jack Judge and Harry Williams and Visions of Aranjuez by Mark Williams.
They also performed a hymn Abide With Me arranged by Alan Lourens.
This piece featured Donnybrook student Jarrah Tinker opening on the bagpipes, with the band then following on with the hymn.
It was haunting and beautifully performed.
They then closed with a fun piece Mickey by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman.
The night was concluded with some awards.
The Band Member of the Year was awarded to year 10 trombone player Lauren Cook.
Year 10 students Maggie Biffin, Lauren Cook and Emily Gliddon were awarded completion of the School of Instrumental Music program which takes five years including their primary school commitments.
Although they had already finished school three year 12 students James Moulden, Emma Young and Georgie Urkko came back to play one last time for the high school.
James Moulden and Emma Young were also awarded certificates for completing seven years of School of Instrumental Music.
The Collie Combined Schools Band will also be performing at the Carols in the Park and the Lions Christmas Pageant in December.
