Winter festivities around the Performing Arts Department have been full of action since the start of December practicing solo and ensemble pieces for the High School Music Soiree, as well as songs and speaking parts for the two Elementary School Winter Celebration performances.
On Thursday, December 6, our High School music students treated a supportive audience to an array of musical items. The program was jam-packed with pieces such as: Wade in the Water – an a capella opening piece sung by all of the High School music students, guitar favourites such as The Beatles’ Blackbird, a piano version of a jazz standard Moanin’ by Bobby Timmons, along with violin duets and solos (bassoon, flute and clarinet solos), Ed Sheeran hits, a piano duet version of Happy by Pharrell Williams; Miriam Winklemann, one of the FIS interns, singing Puccini’s O Mio Babbino, two Christmas songs to welcome in the festive season and many more musical items. The High School Music students prepare the solo course-work piece with their private music teacher, so both student and private music teacher are to be congratulated on the work that has been put into ensuring the items are ready for performance ‘on the night’.
Following this, all of our Elementary school students (close to 280 students) enchanted highly appreciative audiences on both Tuesday and Wednesday when presenting the Winter Celebration performances, at times touching their humorous side as the shows unfolded on both days. We heard a range of winter songs including Penguin Polka, Shalom Chaverim, the Australian version of 12 Days of Christmas, O Tannenbaum, Stille Nacht, Up on the Rooftop, Japanese snow song Yuki and a smorgasbord of fun, cheery songs from all around the world for the audience to enjoy.
Well done to our young entertainers for their hard work in preparing their parts, their teamwork, and their risk-taking for performing in front of an audience. Many authentic life skills and creative opportunities for our students to experience!
A big congratulations to all of our FIS performers and to the Elementary School Music teachers, Miss Raine, Miss Lee and Mr. Seay.
Nevann Hardwick
Head of Department Performing Arts
