Senior Concert Band Tour to Bingara and Warialda, September 23-28, 2018
Senior Concert Band (38 students) along with teachers Miss Sexton, Mr Berry and Mr Staines have enjoyed a wonderful 6 days visiting the Gwydir Region.
We departed Chatswood High on Sunday 23/9 travelling over 500 k's before we reached our home for the next 5 nights - Garrawilla, owned by farmer John Wade. Students stayed in tents, while the adults slept in cabins
On the Monday we travelled to Warialda - some 50 k's away, to rehearse in the Warialda Memorial Hall, with the Gwydir Region Concert Band. (30 students and directed by music teacher Robyn Conway) Together the students learned our repertoire for the week - Flurry for Winds and Percussion, In the Mood, Hosts of Freedom, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Marches of John Williams, Stone Creek Episode, Tales of the Sea, The Lion King, The Incredibles and Bohemian Rhapsody.
On the Tuesday we travelled to Inverell with performances to Inverell High School and later to the Primary School.
Each afternoon we would arrive back at Garrawilla by around 4.30pm. This gave students an opportunity to look around the farm. John introduced to some of his animals. This included lessons on sheep shearing and ringing some of the lambs.
Wednesday was travelling an hour and a half to Moree with a performance to the Moree Public School.
On the Thursday we performed at the Warialda Memorial Hall to local High School students, Primary School children and to Senior Citizens. In the afternoon we travelled back to Bingara where we performed to the Bingara Central School students in the Roxy Theatre. Following the afternoon concert we enjoyed pizza together before our final concert of the tour. The 6pm concert was again held in the beautiful Roxy Theatre to the parents of the Gwydir Region Concert Band.
It was an early start on Friday morning as we dressed, packed our bags, folded up the tents and packed the Coach and Truck. After a photo session with our host John and cooks Lorraine and Irene, we were able to depart shortly after 7am to journey home to Chatswood, arriving at approximately 4.45pm.
A great time was had by all!
Here are two reports from band members -
Chatswood High School’s Senior Concert Band went on a 6 day tour to Warialda. We stayed at Farmer John’s estate where we camped in tents. We were given opportunities to meet the farm animals such as the horses, sheep and dogs and camels. The band toured to many schools around the area – Inverell, Moree, Warialda and Bingara, performing with the Gwydir Regional Band, finishing with a concert at the Roxy Theatre. A big thank you to Mr Staines, Miss Sexton, Mr Berry and our parents to make this experience possible. (Georgia Widaja – Yr 9)
Going into further detail, many of the Senior Concert Band members learnt to sheer a sheep, learn to catch a sheep (I think you needed to catch the sheep before you attempted to sheer it!), and lastly learnt to ride a sheep. Some of us tried to crack a whip, but only succeeded in injuring ourselves! The students also learnt to embrace the lifestyle of a farmer (doing the washing and drying up after meals) and to also cope without reception. (Horry Craven-Sands Yr 8)
Here are comments from some of the local people we met during our tour -
A quick message to let you both know how much the students and staff enjoyed the concert performed to us yesterday by your wonderful students. Feedback from both staff and students has been very positive. It was an entertaining and professional performance that was greatly appreciated by a captivated audience. We rarely have the opportunity to see and hear such a large orchestra perform and we truly appreciate the time and effort involved in visiting our school. Regards Leslie Beattie (Relieving Assistant Principal, Inverell Public School)
Thank you Chatswood high. I got goose bumps listening to the concert on Thursday. We love it and so have all our kids over the years - Simon Waller
Sarah Heaton (trumpet) "absolutely loved it", "made new friends" and said that "it needs to happen more often". As an adult member of the Gwydir Band (Sarah's older sister) playing clarinet, I too thoroughly enjoyed the experience although I could only play at the Monday rehearsal and the Thursday night concert due to work commitments. It was wonderful to play with an experienced band with many gifted people and be challenged to grow in our musical skill. I thought the concert on Thursday was fantastic and it was great for the community to hear about Chatswood High School and how important music is to the education of students. We wish you all the best for the Chatswood Band and hope to see you again soon! - Rachael Heaton
Thanks for your message and thanks for your part in what was a wonderful celebration of students making music together. I have heard nothing but positive feed-back, and as a participant I felt very humbled to be involved. You and your staff should be very proud of your students and their enthusiasm and willingness to co-operate, which is a testament to your teaching and the obvious positive relationship you have developed. I have nothing but praise for the venture and hope to see you and the Chatswood students again in the future. You are giving your students a gift for life and teaching them so many healthy lessons which help develop their character. I know this because I am the product of a band program and have taught and conducted band for the past 30 years. Keep up the awesome job, I know your students appreciate you. Love n blessings - Dave Brown BA (mus) GdDipEd (Secondary Music)
It was lovely to have you, your staff and wonderfully talented, polite and respectful students visit and demonstrate their talents so impressively. With all that has been going on over the last day of term, I want to reassure you that I certainly intend to pass on my thanks and other expressions of gratitude for what you and your team have provided in emails to your senior executive team at Chatswood. Was lovely to meet and speak with you,
Helen Young (Deputy Principal, Warialda High School)
I was thrilled for my daughter Tilly to be involved in the Chatswood tour. What a fabulous opportunity for our country children to be involved in an occasion where music was truly valued and celebrated. The concert on Thursday night was thoroughly entertaining and happy night. Thank you both for the wonderful week of music. Treen Barwick
I really wanted to take this time to thank you all for providing such a wonderful music experience. My daughter Elle is only 9 years old and has just literally moved up from beginner band. Every day last week she would come home, squealing with excitement and telling me how much she had learnt!!! She also shared with me that she had made some new friends from a school in the city. She was amazed with how fabulous they all were at playing their instruments. Elle told me she wants to be just like them when she gets in high school. You have truly ignited my child’s love for music, and we are hoping to see Chatswood High staff and students again very soon!!!!!! Charmaine Reading
This was my daughters Madison first time playing with Chatswood band, she loved it and can't wait till next time we meet up again. She has been only playing for a couple of years, and this opportunity has boosted her confidence and her love for music. The concert on the Thursday night was lovely for myself as this was my first concert outside of the high school performances and I thought all of you did a wonderful job playing together in such a small amount of time together.Thank you all and hope to see you in a couple of years. Kori Findlater
A message of congratulations is extended to the students and staff from your school, who performed a brilliant concert at Moree Public School. We are most appreciative that the combined band included MPS in their touring schedule - giving our students an opportunity to enjoy music through the range of instruments not usually seen in our country setting. The Chatswood Gwydir students were exemplary in their personal presentation, setting up, packing up and performing with such enthusiasm. Please be assured we welcome your band back for any future opportunity that may arise. Kind regards. Lindy Hosegood. Moree Public School
I just wanted to pass on our heartfelt thanks to everyone who allowed for the band tour to occur. This was a great opportunity for our students to engage with our community, students from other areas and of course soak up the musical experience that was provided. The skills of the students were on display around our surrounding towns and they were enjoyed by all. The music coming from The Roxy was beautiful. We hope to see you back again soon.Thanks again. Brooke Wall. Principal Bingara Central School