ENSEMBLES 2009
The Chatswood High School Concert Band
The Chatswood High School Concert Band commenced in 1980 with approximately twelve musicians under the direction of music teacher Gavin Staines. With the present school population of 750 students, nearly 200 are involved in the extra curricular music program. (Concert Bands -2, String Ensemble, Stage Band, Guitar Group, Jazz Combos -2, Choir and the a cappella group. Students participating in extra curricular music rehearse before or after school, and receive no credit towards their education. The Senior Concert Band has toured overseas on six occasions:
1986 – New Zealand
1994 – New Zealand
1998 – Pacific Basin Festival Hawaii
2000 – USA (visiting LA, Los Vegas, New Orleans and Washington DC)
2004 – International Youth and Music Festival, Vienna (also visiting Salzburg, Heidelberg, Nurnberg, Prague and St Leonhard –Forst)
2006 – Aurora Festival Christchurch, NZ
In addition the Band does a tour in country NSW each year. The Band performs on average four times every school term (10 weeks) and rehearses regularly on Monday afternoons for 1.5 hours. Consisting of 65 members, the students range from 12 to 18 years of age, and are selected by audition. A highlight of every year is the opportunity to perform at Sydney’s Opera House as part of the Department of Educations’ Concerts. In recent years the Band has performed in concerts with Australian Jazz artist James Morrison, a cappella group ‘The Idea of North’, and Flute Virtuoso Jane Rutter. The School Administration has acknowledged the importance of the Music Program by Commissioning Australian Composers’ Ralph Hultgren (‘Joshua’, 2006) and Paul Jarman (‘Whatever It Takes’, 2008) to compose for the Concert Band. Russell Hammond (Australian Wind Orchestra) and Stephen Williams (NSW Performing Arts) are two conductors who have worked with the Band as the Band has prepared for their latest tour to Vienna. The Chatswood High School Concert Band members are proud to represent Australia as they participate in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival.
