Good evening Headmaster, Parents, Guests, Staff and Gentlemen.

I
am Sean Quinn, Deputy Music Captain, student of Composition,
flute, piano and clarinet within the music department.

Isn’t it wonderful to see such young musicians here in Hamer Hall.

You have just been entertained by Mr Todd Callander and the Middle
School Flute ensemble, with their rendition of the choral work, ‘I Had
a Dream’ by Mary Donnelly.

Speaking of flutes: the College's new music building owes its name
to a distinguished and titled flautist and pedagogue, Victor
McMahon. But who is this mysterious man mounted up by the door
of the studio? He’s more than you’d think…

First off, Victor was one of the class of 1918, attending the college
exactly 100 years ago. In his future career, although not totally based
in Melbourne, Victor was the founder of music education in NSW,
and helped in developing instruments – ‘school flutes’ they were
called – designed for younger players to begin learning the basics of
playing in marching bands and with other instruments such as
Clarinets, and Saxophones. This simpler instrument allowed players
to eventually transition to the larger modern Boehm Flute. However,
they became redundant after the rise of the plastic recorder, due to
the latter being more ergonomically sound to play – but not on the
ears. Thus, he was an influential part of Australian musical
education, and his dedication to education procedes him with
performances such as what you have just seen.

Moving on; our next groups, or group should I say, will be the
combined forces of Big Band 1 & 2, who will firstly each provide us
with a taste of musical enlightenment. Big Band 2 will showcase their
charm with the Wycliffe Gordon chart ‘The Woogie’ – featuring
soloists from all reigons of the band. And then, Big Band 2 will set
the stage alight with the ‘Blues in Frankie’s Flat’.
Following this, they will combine to perform the newly commissioned
work from Toshi Clinch; an hailed Australian composer in the realms
of jazz, known mainly for his work in the highschool and soundtrack
composition zone. Thank you Toshi His work, for double Big Band,
‘The Shapeshifter’, takes on the title fittingly, as it travels through
the various styles of music that the Big Bands are familiar with, from
Afro-Cuban to Swing. Sadly, no one will actually be shapeshifting
onstage tonight. But, please put your hands together for the army of
band members and their conductors, Mr Jamie Lawson and Mr
Andrew Werner.