This year’s Balaklava Eisteddfod was held on Friday and August 3 and CYS was well represented by the school’s Junior Concert band and as part of the YP Combined School’s Band.
Junior Concert Band
The Junior Concert band comprised thirty Year 5-7 students. For many, this was their first performance to a public audience and the students acquitted themselves well, with an excellent performance and audience behaviour.
The band played three pieces at the Harvest Christian Gym including the ‘Hey Song’, made popular by Gary Glitter. The band’s attention to dynamics, accurate playing and musicianship gained them a well-deserved third placing out of seven schools and the highest ranking public school in the junior band division.
Senior Band
Once the Junior Band had finished, students travelled to the Balaklava Town hall for the Open band competition. With forty-five musicians in all, logistics and organisation can be tricky, but again the students demonstrated their professionalism in setting up and preparing for their audience.
Medley Time
The band played two complex medleys: ‘Star Wars-The Force Awakens’ and ‘Dr Who: Through Space and Time’. Both pieces were enthusiastically received by the audience with members expressing their delight in the standard of the performance. The Senior Band also received a third placing and was also the top ranked Public School band out of the nine schools competing. A very creditable performance and result!
A Great Experience
All students appreciated the chance to hear and compete against the other schools and appreciate the advanced musicianship that many demonstrated. Thank you to all the community members who assisted, to the teachers from the various schools who supervised and performed, to all the families who transported students and supported the bands and of course to our conductor Debbie Schwartz for her leadership.
Congratulations again to all students: you were fantastic musicians and outstanding ambassadors for our school.