Term 1 2025 - Back to Bands

Hi All

Welcome back to school. We are looking forward to getting things up and running for band and strings 2025. Thank you for your patience while we sorted through new tutors etc.

New Director of Bands and Conductor

We welcome Emma Clain who will be our Director of Bands . Emma comes to BNPS bringing years of conducting and tutoring experience in public and private schools. A graduate of Sydney Conservatorium and a local primary schools band program, Emma is keen to sprinkle her magic at BNPS after a year off looking after 1 year old, Chelsea. The Concert Band students have met Emma before so she will be a familiar face.

Also new to the team is Chris Brasche. Chris' conducting, tutoring and performance CV is extensive across private and public schools and he has performed with well known artists and at various festivals. A graduate of Sydney Conservatorium Chris has over 30 years experience to bring to BNPS. Chris is also available of brass tutoring after school on Wednesdays. We look forward to seeing him work with the students.

Of course, our long term conductor, Angus Bullough is also returning to fill out the conducting team.

New Strings Conductor Our wonderful conductor for the last couple of years, Charlotte, has taken a position working at the Sydney Conservatorium as a Strings Administrator and tutor. Replacing her is the equally wonderful, Marianne Edwards who recently retired from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra after 15 years. She has held positions in the Australia Chamber Orchestra. Marianne is keen to nurture the next generation of string players and is looking to develop the strings program and take on more private tutoring.

Rehearsal Schedule Always a challenge, the rehearsal schedule has to work around school commitments/activities, conductor availability, hall access and more. We have arrived at a schedule below which sees each band have one morning and one lunchtime rehearsal. Emma will see each band and Chris and Angus will share the other rehearsals.

Monday morning 7.40am – Junior Band – Emma Clain

Monday Lunch – Senior Band – Emma Clain Tuesday morning 7.40am – Senior Band – Angus Bullough Tuesday lunch – Concert Band - Chris Brasche

Wednesday Lunch – Junior Band - Chris Brasche Thursday morning 7.40am – Concert Band – Emma Clain

Thursday morning 7.45am - Strings - Marianne Edwards (Library)

Rehearsals Begin - Week 4 (W/b 17 Feb)

Band rehearsals will begin on Monday 17 February as per schedule above to allow time for conductor catch ups to happen next week.

Strings rehearsals will begin on Thursday 13 February from 7.50am in the Library for all strings (beginner and 2024 ensemble members). Membership Please let us know if you will not be returning to band - we hope this isn't the case of course, but we know situations change so it would be appreciate if you could send an email to bnpsbandmanager@outlook.com. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing everyone next week. Private Tuition It is imperative that our band members have good quality, experienced private tutors who can teach them correct technique on their instrument and understand the importance of music theory etc when they are playing their pieces. We have found that those students who don't have a good tutor are often the ones who lose interest in playing as they are unable to play their instrument with confidence and participate fully in band. Yes, it is a big financial commitment but it does pay you and your child back ten fold when the child achieves a competent playing standard. There is a list of tutors on our website and others who work locally. Please get in touch if you need assistance with finding a good tutor.

Conductor Catch Ups Schedule - held next week beginning 10 February

Conductor catch ups for band members will be held in the usual rehearsal times. These catch ups will only take 5 minutes. Parents are welcome to 'drop and run' ie leave your child and we will supervise until playground is open.

Catch up criteria can be found here

Proposed schedule below. Please email bnpsbandmanager@outlook.com with questions, changes etc

We would like to see everyone next week so we can form bands in time for start of rehearsals the following week.

Monday Morning 10 February - Year 6s and Year 4s

7.45am Benny McClelland Isaac Riddington Cooper Maher Asher Stanfield Max Huhnerkoch Will Roberts

8.00am Harvey Rhodes Toby Perkins Ayrton Knights Tilly Egan Jasper Courtney

8.15am - Year 4s Summer Courtney Harry O'Brien Julian Mort Chloe McDonald Lachie Anderson John Smart Max Sawrey-Cookson Hugo Margetts Daisy White

Thursday Morning 13 February - Year 5s

7.30am Laila Wagstaff Ella Richards Cleo Moles Grace Huhnerkoch Claire Zhao Skye Hauville

7.45am Sofia Brabant Eddie Sun Juliet Kirwan Kobi Parkin Neve Morris Ivy Vonhoff

8.15am Inny Reid Oscar Lovelace Amelia MacKinnon Oscar Skold Christian Semendo