[ps-skip]
Band Report for 2009
2009 has been a year of great development for the band, as we have grown musically and the future looks bright. We formed part of the band for the school’s successful “My African Dream” production. The band had some memorable performances this year, playing at Strelizia High School in Uitenhage was definitely a highlight on our calendar and the band was a massive hit with their learners. The Jazz Festival was once again run by our Matric class and we thank them for providing the band with an opportunity to strut their stuff. The band also performed at the Addo Rose show again this year.
We are planning on making a recording of the school band during 2010, as part of the Music Department’s academic programme the jazz band will be assisting learners in their technology project. Early in 2010 the band also hopes to take a tour down the Garden Route.
Unfortunately the time has come to say goodbye to our grade 12 learners again and we thank them for their dedicated service to the band.
Jonathan van der Walt has really grown as a bass player and we look forward to seeing him on stages around Port Elizabeth in years to come.
Justin van der Weide has been a quiet constant in the band since joining in grade 8 and we thank him for his fantastic loyal contribution.
Matthew Olivier has really come of age as an Alto Saxophone player and he has led the saxophone section well.
Khalil Bendie joined the Jazz Band this year and has really stepped up to the plate filling the gap left by Faye Prinsloo at the end of last year admirably.
We wish all our band members a blessed Christmas and a most prosperous New Year.
M Louis Wind Band
It gives me great pleasure to report that the wind band has grown in strength to 31 players this year and because of this, the band is starting to project a brilliant big band sound.
We started the year by playing at the prizegiving in February . We performed favourite selections from Andrew Lloyd’s “Les Miserables” and were enhanced by Miss Kendall singing one of the tunes with the band. Our performance was very well received by the school.
On 20th April our band was invited to perform at a Clarendon Park “Concert in the Park”. We were very excited about the invitation as we were required to quickly build up a repertoire of 40 minutes of playing in a short space of time. The evening was almost a disaster as the famous Port Elizabeth south easter got up to about 100 km per hour just as we were about to perform. With the aid of the primary school band pupils, holding onto our stands and Miss Judd holding onto my conductor’s scores, the crowd that had gathered, seated under thick blankets, gave us one of the warmest applauses that we could have ever wished for. This concert also gave our band an opportunity to meet prospective Grade 8 learners to Victoria Park in 2010.
Our next invitation was to play at the “Table of Unity” charity luncheon on Sunday 17 May in the Victoria Park Drive park. We were very honoured to have been asked as so many important dignatories were going to be present at this function. Once again the wind got up to approximately 120 km an hour and on arriving at the park to set up the band, destruction met our eyes. The whole marquee where we were going to perform had blown down. We were told that the function had to move to our Thorpe Hall, which was in the process of being painted! Within an hour or more, with the help of all members of the wind band carrying chairs, over to the hall, helping the organisers to lay the tables, etcetera. the band was able to continue with their performance. The only difference was that we had to play in the school’s staff room and not as many people as we would have liked to have heard us did.
The most exciting and nerve racking performance for the windband was at the Grahamstown Eisteddfod on the 26 May. Mr Roos kindly transported us in the big school bus and upon arriving, we were told that we had to carry all our heavy equipment from the parking area to the monument and then up a flight of stairs. This is when you wished that you sang in a choir! The adjucator, the well-
Wind Band
It gives me great pleasure to report that the wind band has grown in strength to 31 players this year and because of this, the band is starting to project a brilliant big band sound.
We started the year by playing at the prizegiving in February . We performed favourite selections from Andrew Lloyd’s “Les Miserables” and were enhanced by Miss Kendall singing one of the tunes with the band. Our performance was very well received by the school.
On 20th April our band was invited to perform at a Clarendon Park “Concert in the Park”. We were very excited about the invitation as we were required to quickly build up a repertoire of 40 minutes of playing in a short space of time. The evening was almost a disaster as the famous Port Elizabeth south easter got up to about 100 km per hour just as we were about to perform. With the aid of the primary school band pupils, holding onto our stands and Miss Judd holding onto my conductor’s scores, the crowd that had gathered, seated under thick blankets, gave us one of the warmest applauses that we could have ever wished for. This concert also gave our band an opportunity to meet prospective Grade 8 learners to Victoria Park in 2010.
Our next invitation was to play at the “Table of Unity” charity luncheon on Sunday 17 May in the Victoria Park Drive park. We were very honoured to have been asked as so many important dignatories were going to be present at this function. Once again the wind got up to approximately 120 km an hour and on arriving at the park to set up the band, destruction met our eyes. The whole marquee where we were going to perform had blown down. We were told that the function had to move to our Thorpe Hall, which was in the process of being painted! Within an hour or more, with the help of all members of the wind band carrying chairs, over to the hall, helping the organisers to lay the tables, etcetera. the band was able to continue with their performance. The only difference was that we had to play in the school’s staff room and not as many people as we would have liked to have heard us did.
The most exciting and nerve racking performance for the windband was at the Grahamstown Eisteddfod on the 26 May. Mr Roos kindly transported us in the big school bus and upon arriving, we were told that we had to carry all our heavy equipment from the parking area to the monument and then up a flight of stairs. This is when you wished that you sang in a choir! The adjucator, the well- known Andrew Tracey, was not giving away any golds that morning and although we obtained a Silver award (between 80 and 89%), all he had to say in his report was that he missed the sound of a Tuba. Unfortunately, tuba players are like gold in schools at the moment and we had to use a keyboard to reinforce the tuba bass line. Also not in our favour, was the fact that the amplification that they provided us with was faulty and threw the band slightly out. It was a great experience and we learnt a lot from the adjudicator’s comments, which most of the time were extremely positive in our favour.
Our last performance for the year will be at the Music Department’s “Music Extravaganza” concert which will be held on 9 October in the Blake Hall.
Finally, I would like to bid farewell to the following matriculants, Nicole Lloyd (1st Clarinettist) and Stephen Armstrong (Lead percussionist), who have faithfully played in the Wind Band since it was formed five years ago. The band wishes the two leaders of the band all the very best for the future and thank them both very much for their fine contribution to the band.
A very big thanks to each and every member of the Wind band for their dedication and many hours they have spent in rehearsals, always striving for perfection.
Senior Steelband
The Steelband has enjoyed a busy 2009. Even though the band was only formed in 2008, they have matured into a well organised group of musicians. Their first performance took place at the beginning of the year at the Prize Giving. During the Annual Open Day, parents were entertained by the steelband during their visit to the school.
A combined concert was held at Clarendon Park Primary School in April. Victoria Park High School was represented by the Jazz Band, the Wind Band and the Steelband. Even though the weather was cold and very windy, the band entertained the crowd and enjoyed the opportunity to work as a unit
During one of the reunions held this year, the steelband formed part of the entertainment in the Thorp Hall. It was good to see the visitors enjoying the music, and even joined in – clapping and singing along.
In May, the band travelled to Grahamstown to participate in the Grahamstown Eisteddfod. The adjudicator was Dr. Andrew Tracey, the first man to introduce the steel drums to South Africa. Congratulations on receiving a Silver award for their performance. Thank you to Michelle for accompanying us on the drums.
At the beginning of August, the band members participated in a Steelband Workshop at Lawson Brown High School. Four school bands were involved. The pupils were joined by Dave Reynolds, a well- known pan player from Johannesburg. All the girls learned a lot from the workshop, and also got to know the other pan players from Woodridge, Lawson and Theodor Herzl. During the evening, there was a concert in which each band performed selected items. At the end of the evening, a mass performance concluded the evening. What an amazing sight to see 50 pan players performing together.
In August, Victoria Park produced the show “African Dream”. The steelband welcomed patrons each evening with music from the show. The music included Afrikaans folks songs, music from the musical District Six and Shosholoza.
The Spring Show in October will highlight the talents of the three school bands. The steelband will form part of the entertainment during the evening.
The repertoire of the band included typical Calypso music, songs from the Beatles, South African folk music, Roy Orbison, Harry Belafonte and Cole Porter.
