“Things you may not know – A Behind-the-Scenes look at what goes into a Music School Concert Event”
There have been two incredibly professional concert experiences here at Varsity over the last few weeks, proudly brought to you by the Instrumental Music Team, and the College Community saw seven different concerts performed over a marathon seven hours.
And while the music on display was truly remarkable and so impressive considering the age of the performers, we thought it might be nice to share some of the moments audience members may not have experienced while they sat enjoying, marvelling and letting the music wash over them.
Behind the scenes moments ……
• Loving hearing a Junior Band member comment back stage “Wow, they sound sooo good” about the Senior Band …. It’s fantastic that the children hear the improvement through the years.
• The Varsity Harmonies Choir cleverly deciding that we should move the audience up to the JLC waiting area as the acoustics sounded so amazing in that warm up space.
• Beginner Strings students solving forgotten sheet music problems – “Don’t worry, you can share my music.”
• Hearing “That was sooo fun” as kids left the stage.
• Hearing “That was sooo scary” as kids left the stage …. And yet, they did it.
• Hearing students say “I want to do that again.”
• Watching the impressive clockwork change-over of chairs from String Ensemble position to Band Ensemble position by Ms Mieko, Mr Kemp, Mr Strand and Mr Caulton.
• Mr Caulton trying to fix the piano volume in the middle of the Varsity Harmonies Choir piece after getting a glare and a point from Ms Kelly to fix the problem.
• Ms Mieko chasing up permission notes, printing up new permission notes, and then chasing them up again.
• Ms Griffiths running extra rehearsals to fine tune those tricky moments in order to ensure the best possible performance on the day.
• Hearing Mrs Wilson say “We’re here and we’re at your disposal. What needs doing?” to Mr Strand between Concert 1 and Concert 2.
• The Varsity Melodies Choir students, right before their performance, re-assuring their conductor that her hair looked fine although, “If I’m being honest, you do look a little tired, Ms Kelly.”
• Mrs Maitchell (Prep Gold) offering to be jumper-wrangler as Choir students kept stripping them off.
• Brittany Hutchines (4H) bravely shrugging off a squashed toe as a baritone sax ran over her foot.
• Cups of tea and protein balls being brought to Instrumental Music staff by Mrs Crawshaw (4C) …. Just because she knows that they’re probably unlikely to stop and eat on a day like today.
• Harrison Kohn (Service Delivery Manager Technology), on his own with setting up microphones and sound, so hungry and hoping that ordering Uber Eats after the first concert will mean getting some food by the end of the second concert.
Congratulations to all teachers and students for their dedication and wonderful work.
