Bringing Music to Life

Junior School Music Camp

Over three days in the first weekend of April, the Collaroy Centre was buzzing with the musical energy of 185 talented musicians who gathered for the second-ever Junior School Music Camp. Despite the rainy weather, the students' spirits remained high as they indulged in the enriching musical experience. The ensembles that participated included the Junior School Wind Ensemble, Wind Orchestra, Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Paganini Strings, and the Festival Orchestra. The young musicians enjoyed rehearsing in their ensembles, working in small groups with Barker's visiting music teachers, engaging in large group singing sessions, and participating in exciting nighttime games. The collaborative efforts of our Music Staff and Junior School teaching staff created a warm and welcoming environment, where our youngest musicians thrived and developed their skills.

Chamber in the Chapel

Chamber in the Chapel made a welcome return on Friday 5 May, as Barker’s War Memorial Chapel hosted some of our leading chamber ensembles. Conceived originally as a platform for Chamber Orchestra and Choir, this event allowed both ensembles to demonstrate versatility in solo items, as well as a combined performance of Ola Gjeilo’s haunting work, The Ground. Chamber Choir stretched across the centuries with works by Gibbons and Lauridsen, whilst Chamber Orchestra delivered heartfelt performances of Romantic masterworks by Sibelius and Arensky. It was also a joy to have two woodwind groups present – the flute ensemble and wind quintet both able to demonstrate the breadth of Barker’s instrumental program. Many of these students perform in our larger ensembles, and were grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in a more intimate setting.

Rock Bands at Wellbeing Week

Wellbeing Week was off to an electrifying start as our upcoming rock bands took to the stage and enthralled students, staff, and parents in the CRU courtyard during lunchtime. The three bands, Rockin' Refrigerators, Red Rebels, and Toxic Banana all comprised of talented Year 7 and 8 students who showcased their musical skills with confidence and style. The eclectic mix of songs performed by the bands included hits from popular artists like Paramore, Arctic Monkeys, Bruno Mars, Boy Pablo, Lost Dinosaur, and Justin Bieber, which kept the audience grooving and swaying. The crowd was left spellbound by two sensational piano vocalists, Carter Barnes (Year 7) and Max McClelland (Year 11), who stole the show with their uplifting performances.

The bands' dedication and hard work have paid off, thanks to the expert coaching of Ms Lesley Moxon and mentorship from our homegrown rock star, Mr Sam Thomlinson.

Jazz Café

The Jazz Cafe concert proved to be a delightful treat for all who attended on 27 April. The CRU courtyard was transformed into a hub of relaxation where parents indulged in scrumptious banana bread and a hot beverage, while tapping their feet to the melodious Jazz Ensembles from Year 8 - 12. As the tea break ended, the audience shifted to the BCPA Theatre for the main event where stage bands, big bands, and jazz orchestras took the stage, mesmerising the listeners with an array of swing classics, jazz rock, and Latin jazz styles. The Barker jazz program has witnessed unprecedented growth this year with over 120 students participating. These students have dedicated themselves to the jazz groups in addition to their other co-curricular music ensembles, demonstrating their unwavering passion and enthusiasm for jazz. As the Barker Swings event approaches on Friday 21 July, both students and staff are eagerly anticipating another fantastic performance.

Wind Symphony Concert with Moriah College

The Barker Wind Symphony hosted students and staff from Moriah College and performed in a concert together on 10 May. This ongoing tradition of performances with Moriah College allows students from both schools to perform high quality wind band music in a non-competitive concert. This year, our Barker students performed works by Australian composer, Jodie Blackshaw as well as an arrangement of Debussy’s Pagodes by Andrew McWade. The Barker and Moriah students were mutually supportive of one another’s performances. A very wholesome event where two schools with diverse cultural backgrounds were able to come together and where music was the winner on the day.