Band News

What a spectacular weekend of music! The Killarney Heights bands performed at the Northern Sydney Symphonic Wind Ensemble (NSSWE) Spring Music Festival at Chatswood Concourse this weekend.

For our Training Band this was the first large concert performed in front of a large audience. The Training Band, with over 40 members, many of whom picked up an instrument for the first time this year, delivered an impressive performance.  It was amazing to hear how much they have improved. Ms Shearer led the Training Band in performing Riding Through The Wild West and the crowd favorite Geronimo.

Our experienced Intermediate Band, led by Mr Barg, played exceptionally well, playing Andalucia and Baywood Overture.

On Sunday our most experience band,  The Senior Concert,  joined the action playing Fire Dance and Party Rock Anthem. Both pieces were extremely complex and the performance was outstanding. We can really see the hours of practice really paying off – well done Senior Concert band!

After the Seniors performed inside our extended Jazz performers rushed out to the Concourse steps and played open air to a large audience. This is always a difficult feat having to manage the onlookers and passing traffic of busy Chatswood, however Jazz band did us all very proud and nailed their pieces to close out the performance for Killarney.

Well done to all of our Musicians and a heartfelt thank you to all the parent volunteers who made this weekend a resounding success.

Strings News 

Beginner Strings

What a fantastic performance by the Beginner Strings at the K-2 Assembly last Friday on Pyjama Day! These students have been attending lessons on either violin, viola or cello since the start of Term 1 in small groups of 6-8 students for half an hour a week. This year the Beginner String students have put in a great effort both at lessons and at home to learn right-hand bow hold, left-hand finger position, note reading and how to play in time as an ensemble. An impressive set of skills to put together and perform for their peers, teachers and parents at the K-2 Assembly on Friday. The audience were quick to recognise the two melodies as Mary Had a Little Lamb (or Rolling Along) and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (or the Alphabet Song).

Well done to all the Beginner Strings for putting on such an enjoyable performance conducted by Rosy J. Thank you to both Rosy and Cara for your work teaching the Beginner Strings at their weekly lessons. We look forward to hearing these young musicians play again at the French Market in Term 4!

Student Voices

I really enjoyed performing at the assembly and am looking forward to the next performance! Marcus, Y1, violinist.

Corelli Strings at the Opera House

The Festival of Instrumental Music (FOIM) is an annual concert at the Sydney Opera House organised by the Arts Unit of the NSW Department of Education. The FOIM brings together students from over 100 public schools in NSW to form the Combined String Ensemble and the Combined Recorder Ensemble for a series of concerts. These ensembles are joined by a number of guest soloists and other school ensembles to create a diverse musical program. The KHPS Corelli Strings students took part in this spectacular event last Monday 8 September.

The KHPS Corelli Strings students have been rehearsing once a week with their conductor, Annabelle, to memorise three diverse pieces to play at this concert. The General’s Order and Bushwhacker Stomp were conducted by Arts Unit conductors and played by the Combined String Ensemble including 200 students playing violin, viola, cello and double bass. The finale, Elvenwood, was played with the Combined Recorder Ensemble and supporting band to deliver the haunting melodies written by Australian composer Tracy Burjan. Congratulations to the twelve KHPS Corelli Strings students for their efforts rehearsing the music over the past six months and for bringing the music to life with their fellow students on stage last Monday evening.

 Student Voices

It was amazing to play with over 200 other violinists. And with the recorders and other instruments it made it sound so much more magical. It was such a fun experience and we even had a little concert in the room where we were practicing and that was so cool. Mila, Y6, violinist.

Congratulations to all students and performers! I thought it was an amazing and inspiring concert. It must have been a very special opportunity and experience for all young players. It was definitely better than last year’s but next year let’s make it even better. Keep it up! Anne, Y5, violinist.

The FOIM Concert was a fantastic experience and we rehearsed a lot to make it happen. The String Quartet that played for us backstage was really good and it was fun when the students started to sing along to the last song. It sounded amazing when all the strings played with the recorders and other instruments for the concert finale. Margot, Y5, violinist.

It was a LOT of standing up but it was worth it. I’ve never performed in front of so many people before. I’m so lucky to have had the opportunity to perform at the Opera House. It was super fun! Audrey, Y4, violinist.

Upcoming Strings Dates

• Corelli Strings
  Music Tour Term 4, Week 1: Sunday 19 to Tuesday 21 October
  
  
• Information Night for 2026 Beginner Strings
  Term 4, Week 3: Tuesday 28 October at 6 pm in the Hall
  
  
• Amadeus Strings
  Assembly Performance Term 4, Week 3: Friday 31 October
  
  
• French Market
  All Band & Strings ensembles will be performing at the French Market in Term 4, Week 5: Sunday 16 November
  
  

KHPS Band & Strings Committee