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From NECOM CEO, Russell Bauer
I want to begin by congratulating all students (and supportive parents and teachers!) on making it through the AMEB examination period for another year. While there are still a dozen or so students sitting Trinity exams in November, we recently saw 74 students come through the doors of the Old Teachers College, ready to present their pieces for the chosen examiners. Like Eisteddfods, formal examinations offer musicians several important benefits, not least of which is the chance to present newly-learned pieces and receive written feedback. The more often we play/sing in front of people (even one examiner sitting in a room, which can actually be more formidable) the more in-control we become of our nerves. The greatest performers in the world still feel the familiar burst of nervous expectation while standing in the wings of a concert hall waiting to take to the stage, it’s just that (over time) they have learned to channel that energy from anxiety into anticipation. Other useful benefits in sitting for exams is that they give you a focus/reason to prepare new repertoire, from a graded syllabus that has been carefully compiled and revised over 100 years by some of the world’s leading authorities on instrumental and vocal performance. We look forward to presenting some of the outstanding results from our students’ exams in the next newsletter as they continue to come in.
I want to finish by focussing on the human voice. Two of my very favourite images from 2018 thus far have both come from August. What a proud moment for parents and teachers alike to watch (and hear) our fabulous Children’s Chorus performing alongside this country’s finest trained voices in Opera Australia’s Madame Butterfly. Then only a fortnight later we were treated to some outstanding choral singing at the annual Winter Choral Concert, with one of the highlights for me being the joy on the faces of the Side-by-Side Choir from the Armidale High School Support Group as they sang three numbers, one of which was their own original song. With those two events finished for another year, Gondwana Choir auditions happening on the first day of September and the final preparations going into this year’s New England Sings!, the hallowed halls of the Old Teachers College are ringing with the sounds of vocal music more than usual. The human voice is the most personal of all the instruments. We discover we have one in our first minutes of being alive, and within months we start learning to control the pitch by stretching and relaxing our vocal folds. Babies can start making singing and whistling sounds before turning three months of age, and will likely be singing simple songs within their first two years. Singing offers something immediate for the singer (giver) and the listener (receiver), and even singing alone has been proven to change mood, pulse-rate, anxiety, etc. If you’ve never sung in a choir, you are yet to learn the joy of combining your voice with others and working on a blended sound. Much research is being carried out on the effects of singing on dementia patients and others with learning impairments, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer’s. Singing is personal, therapeutic and possibly the oldest of all art forms. We are delighted to see the continued expansion of our choral programs at NECOM, under the guidance of some of the state’s most outstanding choral directors. We look forward to seeing you at our biennial celebration of the human voice (and Australian composers!) when New England Sings! returns in October.
Mr Russell Bauer
CEO, NECOM
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IN THIS EDITION - August Newsletter |
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Huge Success for Madame Butterfly |
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NECOM has been overwhelmed with the response to Opera Australia’s Madame Butterfly presented by the New England Conservatorium, performed at Lazenby Hall on Thursday 9 August.
The sell-out show was a huge success, made all the more exciting with the addition of 19 NECOM choristers. Read more |
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Winter Choral Concert 2018 |
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The Winter Choral Concert is one of the many highlights of the NECOM Performance Calendar every year. Minisingers, Cantilena, Cantilena Chorale, Side-by-Side Choir, New England Singers and the New England Singers Chamber Choir all gave polished performances on the evening. Read more |
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Chamber Music in Schools Update |
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Flute & Piano Trios have been actively presenting Chamber works in many Primary schools this year. At this stage, we have presented to students in Ashford, Bonshaw, St Marys of the Angels-Guyra, Black Mountain, Uralla Central, Mungindi Central, St Mary’s Armidale, Inverell Public School, Bundarra Central, NEGS, and Ben Venue. Read more |
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Piano Lessons at NECOM |
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Don’t miss out on a place in what will surely end up being one of our premier programs – a $100 deposit secures your spot and is then subtracted from your Term Four fees.
Read more |
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August Strings Report |
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The month of August has shot through like a whirlwind! As soon as Term 3 began it was back into the final weeks of preparation for all our talented students presenting for the yearly AMEB Practical Exams sessions held at NECOM in weeks 3 and 4 of August. Read more |
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Whats On |
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Eliza's Farewell Concert |
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When and Where: 3pm 9 September, TAS Hoskins Centre
Tickets: Available at the door
Price: Adults $20, Children $5
Afternoon tea to follow
Armidale's Eliza Scott will be performing her final concert in Armidale before travelling to London to study. It will be an enjoyable afternoon of music with repertoire to include everything from Hindson to Mozart to Brahms to a few favourite Jazz standards. "I have chosen works that have played a significant part in my musical journey to date, and I am excited to share that with the community before I head off on my next adventure!" |
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Banquet - A Musical Feast |
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When and Where: 7:30pm 21 September Armidale Town Hall
7:30pm 22 September Inverell Town Hall
Bookings: www.operainthepaddock.com.au
Internationally renowned bass baritone, Teddy Tahu Rhodes returns in a highly anticipated performance. Joined by lyric coloratura tenor, Henry Choo, rising star mezzo soprano Ruth Strutt, celebrated soprano Peta Blyth and introuding much acclaimed pianist Rhodri Clarke in a thrilling evening of superb music. |
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In a Galaxy Far, Far, Away |
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When: Saturday 29 Sept 7pm
Sunday 30 Sept 3pm
Where: Lazenby Hall, UNE
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/WMFJ
Armidale Symphony Orchestra will perform well-known sci-fi music and a special new composition from coductor Russell Bauer. |
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New England Sings! |
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When: 11am and 2:30pm, Sunday 21 October
Where: Lazenby Hall, UNE
Tickets: Adult $25, Full-time student $15
Book: www.trybooking.com/WXRS
Presented by the New England Conservatorium and AMTA (Armidale Music Teachers Association) is the largest choral showcase in the New England region, celebrating the joy of singing and Australian music.
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Goldner Quartet |
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When: Thursday 8 November 7pm
Where: Armidale Town Hall
Cost: Adults $45, Pensioners $35, Students $25
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/TDHC
Approaching their 25th anniversary in 2020, Australia’s premier string quartet remain in demand internationally as performers and recording artists. With no changes to their line-up since their inception in 1995, the Goldners bring unmatched musical intuition to every phrase. It’s this closeness that makes them so appealing to watch in performance – every motion and every glance appears in the music as well. |
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3/4 Size Cello |
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Comes with case and bow.
$500
Contact Danielle at 0468950635
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Flute |
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Immaculate condition flute - silver plated
Blessings brand made in America
One owner
$250 neg
Contact Bec 0402996072
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1/4 Size Violin |
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Very good second-hand condition.
Comes with case, bow, shoulder and chin rests.
$100
Contact Amy on 0429 029 162 or laytonfam5@gmail.com |
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