Music Department

Creating opportunities for students to hear world-class performers perform live provides inspiration. To have the opportunity to meet them and ask them about the life and career gives a deeper connection for students with elite performers.

Last week the Music Department was fortunate to be able to host International Jazz and Classical trumpeter Rex Richardson. He currently holds the positions of Professor of Trumpet at the Virginia Commonwealth University (USA) and the title of International Tutor in Trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music in England. He tours throughout the year as a clinician, recitalist, and soloist with orchestras, wind ensembles, big bands, and brass bands. Rex presented three workshops at Scotch College for trumpet students, senior jazz musicians and music staff. All were impressed with his musicianship, virtuosic skills and knowledge of trumpet pedagogy. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to meet and greet one of the leading players in their field.

This weekend all ensembles from the Jazz programme at Scotch College and the combined Scotch/PLC Symphony will perform at WA Schools' Music Festivals. The Senior Jazz Ensemble will also be entering the Essentially Ellington Competition where they compete against other elite student jazz ensembles from WA and have the opportunity to work with educators from the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra, which will be an incredible experience for staff and students alike. The Combined Symphony Orchestra will perform in the 'A' Division of the ABODA Orchestra festival where they have received outstanding feedback in recent years.

These performance opportunities are important steps in the progress of ensembles as students not only perform and receive feedback from leading educators in their field, they have the opportunity to hear other schools perform and gain an understanding of where the benchmark for performance standards is within WA.

Important Dates:

Winter Term

Week 2, Tuesday 2 August, Music Department Senior Recital and Will Upson Award, 6.30pm Dickinson Centre

Week 2, Thursday 4 August, Combined Symphony Orchestra rehearsal, 7.00pm Dickinson Centre

Week 2, Sunday 7 August, WA Schools' Jazz Festival, John Septimus Roe Anglican School (Mirrabooka Campus)

Week 2, Sunday 7 August, WA Schools' Orchestra Festival, Churchlands SHS

Week 3, Wednesday 10 August, Con Brio Concert, 6.45pm Dickinson Centre

Week 4, Monday 15 August, FOSM meeting, 7.00pm Senior Music Department

Week 4, Wednesday 17 August, Concert Band Concert, 6.30pm Dickinson Centre

Week 6, Monday 29 August - Tuesday 30 August, JS/MS Music Festival, JS and MS Music, MacKellar Hall

Week 6, Monday 29 August WAAPA Incursion, Senior Music Department, 3.45pm

Contact Details

The Instrumental Programme is administered by the Senior School Music Department and all queries should be directed to the Music Administrators, Julia Robinson (Monday to Wednesdays) and Donna Ranauro (Thursday and Fridays) via phone 9383 6841 or email music@scotch.wa.edu.au

Alternately, please contact Mr Tim Simpson, Acting Head of Music, via email TMSimpson@scotch.wa.edu.au or phone 9383 6824.

If you wish to become more involved in supporting the Music Department, please contact FOSM@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Mr Tim Simpson

Acting Head of Music