Mrs Emma Dron
Director of Instrumental Music
The future is often predicted to be a world in which science, technology and innovation will lead to the automation and possible elimination of many tasks which, until now, have been delivered by humans. Many question, somewhat fearfully, what will happen to the values and relationships that have shaped our modern world. And yet, despite the proliferation of screens and social media, or in fact perhaps because of this, many young people are seeking out more tactile, tangible and physical experiences in this ultra-high definition, three-dimensional environment we call the ‘real’ world.
The physical, material nature of objects—their colour, texture, shape, size, weight and smell—engage our senses in ways that digital products cannot. It is fascinating to see younger generations rediscovering and resurrecting older analogue technologies. Printed book sales are on the rise (“The market down under”, 2018), vinyl records have made a comeback (Leimkuehler, M., 2019), as have Polaroid cameras (“Fujifilm sales increased”, 2018), and despite the immediacy and accessibility of online music streaming, last year more than 18 million tickets to live music concerts were sold in Australia—the highest sales in the last 10 years. At the heart of these real-world experiences lies the importance of human connection, not just with objects, but most importantly, with each other. These special connections and relationships undoubtedly lie at the heart of Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s Instrumental Music Program. The School’s Music environment creates a culture of respect and trust, setting the stage for students to experience empathy and develop a heightened sense of our shared humanity.
This year promises to provide rich opportunities for connection for Instrumental Music students at Girls Grammar, with many workshops, masterclasses, camps and tours supplementing regular specialised teaching and learning.
Already this year, the Instrumental Music Department has hosted the second annual International Women’s Day Concert held on Friday 8 March, where students premiered three newly commissioned works in a stunning concert that celebrated and paid homage to women in music. Female composers and artists throughout history and from around the world were represented in a musical showcase spread across multiple venues within the School grounds.
The following week, the first initiative of the School’s 2019 Education Partnership with Queensland Symphony Orchestra was launched when internationally renowned musician Marie-Pierre Langlamet, the Principal Harpist of the Berlin Philharmonic, visited the school to work exclusively with three budding harpists. Students Lisa Chang (11E), Remi Hirayama (9L) and Aily Chang (7E) shared some of their repertoire with Ms Langlamet as she mentored them in a masterclass session.
Staff and students eagerly look forward to another year in partnership with Queensland Symphony Orchestra, where students who demonstrated strong musical talent will have the remarkable opportunity to perform with the Orchestra under the baton of Music Director, Alondra de la Parra.
We look forward to continuing to share the fruits of these rich, broad and varied musical experiences with the whole Brisbane Girls Grammar School community throughout 2019.
References
The market down under | books+publishing. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2018/10/02/116464/the-market-down-under-2/
Leimkuehler, M. (2019). Vinyl sales continued to grow in 2018, report says. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewleimkuehler/2019/01/07/vinyl-sales-grow-2018-buzzangle-beatles-kendrick-lamar-queen-album-sales/#1eefc368775a
