PLC Armidale is a school that excels in music.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is a key focus area of excellence at the college and has been for many years.
The choral and string program are both particularly strong and have been the very essence of the musical culture the college has been renowned for decades.
This year PLC Armidale continued its rich heritage of musical excellence throughout the eisteddfod season including winning the New England open choral championship and the open strings championship, along with numerous other prizes for its ensembles, groups, classes and individual performances.
Under the inspired leadership of the new director of music, Matthew Minter, the choir delivered a performance that the adjudicator described as, "beautiful and exciting; the best performance in the whole competition".
In the championship, the choir performed two Australian works, one was actually written by Matthew Minter.
The renowned string ensembles, led by experienced music educator, Deidre Rickards OAM, took out three first places and one second at the bowed strings events.
Under the guidance of Mr Minter, the string quartet was also awarded first place in the small ensemble section.
However in 2016, it is the wind and brass program that has seen the most significant changes.
Mr Minter sees the expansion of this program at the college as one of the most important priorities for the music department, with the goal of providing a wider range of opportunities for the students and for strengthening the college orchestra in the years ahead.
"It was really pleasing for the wind band to achieve equal second in the open ensemble section at the eisteddfod. There is certainly a bright future ahead for these musicians," Matthew Minter said.
This year there are twenty-five new students alone who have started learning wind and brass instruments, with plans to expand this in 2017 with a Wind and Brass Program in Years 7 and 8.
Mr Minter is confident there will be a 50-piece concert band at the college within two years.
The classroom program and Junior School were also well represented at the eisteddfod with the Year 8 group winning first prize in their section.
All the choirs placed in their events with the Year 3-6 choir taking home two close seconds.
Year 4 student, Holly Dauparas represented the PLC Armidale Junior School and received a highly commended in the composition event against tough competition.
The junior string ensembles and chamber groups were awarded with two firsts and a second.
Girls also performed in individual events in voice, speech and drama and instrumental with great success.
"I'm incredibly proud of all the girls. The difference in their performances between this year and last year is astounding. All the students have worked so hard over the past couple of terms and it was wonderful to see their efforts rewarded," junior music teacher and choral director, Miss Constance Rolfe said.
The performances at the eisteddfod overall suggests that music at PLC Armidale is as strong as ever, with an extremely promising and flourishing future.
