Music Notes

From Chris Blenkinsopp, Music Faculty

European Music and Cultural Tour 2018

Expressions of interest are still open for the proposed 2018 European Music Tour.  To read more, CLICK HERE.

George Rummery Scholarship

George William Rummery was a student at Waverley whose life ended in tragic circumstances in 1982. At the time he was enrolled as a student in Year 8. George showed great interest in music and hence his family have bestowed on the College a Music Scholarship in his memory.

To find out more about the Scholarship, please CLICK HERE.  Applications close Wednesday 15 March 2017.

Matthew Coorey Band

The Matthew Coorey Concert Band is one of the performing ensembles of the Waverley College Band Program. Rehearsals take place every Thursday after school in the Recital Room from 3:30pm until 5:00 pm. All students in Year 7 and 8 are welcome to join.

Matthew Coorey

The Band is named after a prominent old boy musician, Matthew Coorey. Matthew started playing horn at Waverley. After completing his studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music he performed regularly with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Brandenburg Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony and the Sydney Symphony. Initially self-taught as a conductor, Matthew auditioned for Seiji Ozawa and was invited to the Tanglewood Music Festival where he worked with Jorma Panula who became his principal conducting teacher.

In 2003 he was appointed Assistant Conductor to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. This initial one-year contract with the RLPO then became a three-year commitment when he was appointed the orchestra’s first Conductor in Residence.

Debuts soon followed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Hallé, Ensemble 10:10 and the London Mozart Players – all of whom offered further invitations.Recent seasons have included debuts with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and at the BBC Proms.

In April 2015 Matthew was invited to perform in Istanbul to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign – a particularly great honour for an Australian whose relatives fought in the Great War.

Coming engagements include return dates with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony and a collaboration with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Matthew has a strong commitment to working with younger musicians and regularly conducts at the Royal Northern College of Music. He has also worked with the orchestras of the Royal College of Music London, the Mendelssohn Hochshule, Leipzig, the Trinity-Laban Orchestra, London and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

The College takes great pride in Matthew’s achievements and international success as a musician, and are thrilled that he has allowed a school ensemble to be named after him.

Watch Matthew in action conducting the opening of the Miraculous Mandarin by Bartok with the Museumsorchester of the Frankfurt Opera on January 17, 2016:

Miraculous Mandarin by Bartok with the Museumsorchester of the Frankfurt Opera

Choir

The College Choir meets on a Monday morning from 7.30am in the Recital Room. New members welcome.

Coming Events

• Monday 20 March – Yr 11 & Yr 12 Music Students, Encore Concert 11am – 3.30pm – Sydney Opera House
• Thursday 23 March – Meet The Music Concert 1, Opera House, 6.30 pm.
• Friday 7 April – College Band ANZAC Commemoration, Centenary Quadrangle, 1.30 pm.
• Tuesday 25 April –  WCCU Cadet Band and contingent march in the City.

Rehearsal Schedule

Waverley College Bands and Choir rehearsal schedule are available to download below.