Music Department
"Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life." - Art Blakey, (also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina) Grammy Award-Winning Jazz Drummer and Band Leader.
On Thursday, 8 May, 23 boys from Years 8 - 11 travelled with Mr Coughlan, Ms Palmyre and Ms van de Ploeg to the 2014 Mt Gambier Generations in Jazz Festival. It was a great opportunity for the boys to see and hear some of the best bands and vocal ensembles in Australia and arguably one of the best professional big bands in the world, the Big Phat Band from the United States. With over 3200 students involved in the festival from across Australia, the enormity of the festival really hit home when everyone sat down in the big circus tent erected just for the Festival. Both our Big Band and the Vocal Ensemble performed with energy and enthusiasm and everyone was very happy with their performances. As a festival is a competition, feedback is provided by the American Musicians together with Mr James Morrison, Jazz Trumpet Legend, but this is yet to arrive by post. All the boys were so amazing and loved the whole experience. My thanks to Ms van de Ploeg and Ms Palmyre for their work in preparing the boys for their performances and Mr Simpson and Ms Houston for their work in setting up the tour logistics prior to the event.
Upcoming events this term and beyond include the Junior and Middle School Music Camp 3 - 4 June, the Junior and Middle School Autumn Concert 20 June, Reporter Photos 23 July, Senior Recital and Upson Award 31 July, Jazz Night 8 August, Performance Festivals 9 - 10 August and Con Brio 12 - 13 August. Please make a note of the new date for the annual Jazz Night - now to be held at the end of Week 3 Winter Term.
Each of the events listed above are supported by FOSM. If you would like to join the Friends of Scotch Music (FOSM) - a group of parents who enthusiastically support the work of boys and staff in the Music Department, the process is very straight forward via the FOSM email below. FOSM meets once or twice each term with all meetings beginning at 7.00pm. Meetings go for approximately one hour, and are held in the Senior School Music Room with everyone welcome. Please consider becoming involved in the FOSM Parent Support group as an excellent way to support your son and the Music Programme at Scotch College. The next FOSM Meeting is to be held this Monday, 5 May.
Contact Details
The Instrumental Programme is administered by the Senior School Music Department and all queries should be directed to the Music Administrator, Julia Robinson (9383 6841) music@scotch.wa.edu.au
Alternately, please contact Mr David Coughlan, Head of Music, via email DGCoughlan@scotch.wa.edu.au or phone 9383 6842.
If you wish to become more involved in supporting the Music Department by receiving information about the work of FOSM, please contact FOSM@scotch.wa.edu.au.
