Friday 30th April saw the Music Aspire students head off to Brisbane to attend the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Pictures at an Exhibition by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky. Pictures at an Exhibition “was a series of pieces for piano based on a famous set of paintings. The paintings themselves were small but the sounds that Mussorgsky created were so big, it wasn’t long before fellow composer Maurice Ravel arranged them into an aurally spectacular version for orchestra.” (QSO concert notes)
For many students, this was the first time they had ever been to an orchestral concert. Seeing and hearing instruments at a live concert is an experience like no other and it was wonderful to be able to attend. The children loved watching the conductor extravagantly and expertly lead his orchestra, witnessing the incredibly large mute being placed into the bell of the Tuba, applauding a living Australian composer (Gordon Kerry, who composed a short work which was performed prior to the main event!), recognising repeating themes and musical ideas studied in class, and hearing, in all its glory, a booming brass section.
The students were a credit to the College (Ms Kelly and Mrs Pridham were very proud of them), as many patrons attending the concert were quick to congratulate them on their behaviour and audience etiquette. I hope they are looking forward to their next live orchestral experience.
Now, onto making our own Aspire Music Orchestras and heading to The Gold Coast Eisteddfod to compete in the Primary Ensemble Section in August.
