Across our two campuses, Waverley College offers a great variety of Choral, Bands and Ensembles for our music students with opportunities to perform.
Choir
College Choir
The Waverley College Choir rehearse and perform a variety of repertoire under the Direction of Ms Jaz Dolso. Rehearsals are held weekly in the Recital Room of the Performing Arts Centre.
The College Choir is engaged throughout the year to sing at many College events, College liturgies, masses and concerts. Over the last 10 years the Choir has participated in several overseas tours performing in Germany and Italy. Students also have the opportunity to attend a Music Camp and to participate in performances across the wider community.
Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir is a small acapella group of Waverley College and St Clare’s College students who meet once a week to rehearse and perform at assemblies, music festivals and other College events. The group sings a range of contemporary repertoire.
Cantores
The Waverley College Junior School Cantores is an auditioned choral group of approximately 40 students. The Cantores sing for liturgies, masses, concerts and competitions. The Cantores perform a mixture of contemporary and classical repertoire including choral works by Australian composers.
Concert Bands
Cliff Goodchild Concert Band
This is the premier Concert Band at Waverley College, and students are invited and auditioned for their position. The Band comprises students from all years at the Senior School. Students need to be proficient on their instrument and are given the opportunity to learn skills and to contribute to large group performances. The band perform for College events and competitions and have toured across Europe, China and the USA. The Band is under the Direction of Mr Dan Williams.
Matthew Coorey Concert Band
Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 students are introduced into the large ensemble program for Senior School students who play a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument including piano. This group allows new and existing students the ability to come together during their first years of Senior School, to perform music in a safe, fun and enjoyable learning environment. The Band is under the Direction of Mr Alexander Lee.
Waterford Concert Band
This Band comprises students from Years 5 and 6. All students who learn an instrument in brass, woodwind and percussion can join this Band. Rehearsals are held Thursday morning from 7:30am. The Band covers a range of repertoire and performs at College assemblies, concerts and festivals.
Jazz Band – A
This ensemble builds upon the skills learnt in Jazz Band – B. The students in this group mainly belong to the Cliff Goodchild Concert Band who wish to continue developing their jazz ensemble playing. Jazz Band – A are often called upon to perform at many College events and competitions. The Jazz Band also offer their time and skills to perform at a number of our local community events which fall under the Social Justice programme of the College. This group has also toured extensively overseas.
Jazz Band – B
This ensemble provides our middle school students an introduction to jazz at the Senior School level. Students are required to audition and should also be part of the Concert Band programme. Jazz Band – B gives students an opportunity to begin learning about the different genres and the art of improvisation.
Brass Ensemble
The Brass Ensemble comprises students who are proficient on their brass instrument. The group builds on skills learnt in the Concert Band and performs often within the College environment, including liturgical services, academic assemblies and community events. Students perform a wide spectrum of repertoire.
Woodwind Ensemble
Students are given an opportunity to learn and perform Wind Chamber Music in various types of woodwind ensembles. These ensembles are small groups that usually perform in small venues. Membership is by audition.
Rock Bands
There are a number of Rock Band Groups at the College. These groups are arranged by Year group and ability. The annual ‘Rock Band Festival’ gives each of the rock bands an opportunity to perform in front of their friends and family, and is one of the many highlights of the year in the Music Department.
String Ensembles
Chamber Strings Ensemble
Students in the ensemble range from Years 5 to 12, and approximately Grade 2 to Grade 5 standard (AMEB). The ensemble extends and enhances students’ musical development and enjoyment through the rehearsal and performance of stimulating repertoire.
Guitar Ensemble
The College has a number of guitar ensembles allowing students to play in a group of students with a similar level of attainment. In most Chamber Music groups there will be only one player per part, giving added responsibility to the musicians.
Stomp
The Waverley College Junior School Stomp is a small creative group of 16 boys. It is a very popular activity at the Junior School that encourages boys to be creative with rhythm and improvisation. The idea behind the Stomp style of music is that you can create music using everyday items in creative ways.
Over the years we have developed performances using chairs, music stands, buckets, bins, brooms, pipes, pots and pans – to name just a few. We also try to include a theatrical element or some kind of storytelling in our Stomp performances to make it more spectacular for the audience. The most important part of this activity is the creating not the performing, with each of our Stomp items created solely from original ideas from the boys.
Private Music Lessons
Private music tuition is available on a range of instruments. Students electing to take private music lessons must do so for a minimum of six months (one semester). There is an additional charge for the use of a College instrument.
Parents/carers who would like their sons to commence instrumental lessons or rock band must complete a private music registration form by clicking the following link: Music Tuition Form.
