Pianoman Competition: Six students competed for the title and every one of them played with significant skill. James Brouff (Warren, Year 11) opened up playing a number of Billy Joel classics and he was followed by Harry Rathbone (Narromine, Year 10), Mitchell Dwyer (Bathurst, Year 10), Brodie Scott (Bathurst, Year 11), David Minehan (Cowra, Year 10) and Stephen Watson (Bathurst, Year 12). Each pianist played two pieces and in Stephen Watson’s case, he played a self composition titled “One small step for Man”. In a very tight contest, Stephen Watson emerged the winner and joined a long list of excellent student musicians dating back to 1997 who have held this title.
Songman Competition: There were 12 contestants and again the standard was consistently very high. Ryan Sanders (Sydney, Year 11), Senio Toleafoa (Sydney, Year 11) and Robert Mortimer (Orange, Year 11) began the evening with splendid harmonies and showmanship in their renditions of two songs, one of which was composed by the boys. Following item one were songs presented by Sam Toohey (Mudgee, Year 11), Liam Auhl (Bathurst, Year 9), Nathan Miller (Nowra, Year 12), Scott Lindsay (Tottenham, Year 9), Jake Toohey (Mudgee, Year 11), Joseph McNamara (Cootamundra, Year 11), Marcus Bower (Bathurst, Year 10), Stephen Watson (Bathurst, Year 12) and Conagh McMahon-Hogan (Bathurst, Year 11). In the end, it was Marcus Bower who prevailed and he adds ‘Songman 2010’ to the title he also won in 2009. As members of the audience commented, Marcus seems to do Elton John better than Elton John does these days!
Classical Adam: Congratulations to Year 8 student Adam Sadler who is the first regional student to be awarded a premium instrument from the Music Council of Australia’s National Music Bank (NMB). In early March, Adam was presented with a Violin that is 100 years old and valued at $5000 at the final ‘Music in the Gardens - The Final Flourish’ concert in Orange, by a representative from NMB. He will have the use of this instrument for one year as he furthers his dream of becoming a professional musician. This classical instrument produces a better sound which will help Adam with his exams and hopefully provide an opportunity for him to play with an orchestra. Well done Adam.