Across our two campuses, Waverley College offers a great variety of Choral, Bands and Ensembles for our music students with opportunities to perform.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Dear Parents and Carers
I would like to thank you for your support of the Music Department and the 2024 European Music Tour.
After such a long hiatus from International Music Tours, it has been wonderful to witness the excitement that this tour has generated from the young musicians at the College.
Music Tours are a truly unique and enriching experience to all concerned, and will stay with the young men of Waverley well beyond their time at the College.
We have received a fantastic response in terms of the initial deposit, and would like to remind you that the closing date for the deposit was Friday, 26 May 2023.
Please note that the tour is open to all music students at the College, including members of the Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Ensembles, Guitar Ensemble and Rock Bands.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions about this tour.
2024 Music Tour Meeting Agenda and Payment Schedule
Mr Chris Balkizas
Head of Music
The Waverley College Music Festival will showcase the abundant talent and variety of our students in vocal, brass, strings, elective music and ensemble performances from both the Junior and Senior Schools.
Guitar and Percussion Ensembles, The Cliff Goodchild Concert Band, Matthew Coorey Concert Band, Jazz Bands, Waterford Concert Band, College Choir, Cantores, Elective Music Students and Soloists and Rock Bands will showcase the event.
Tickets are available to purchase using TryBooking.
You will need to be quick, tickets sell fast! Performers do not need to buy a ticket.
Entry: Adults $25, Children $15.
Location: Br R J Wallace Performing Arts Centre, 131 Birrell Street Waverley.
*Performers should arrive no later than 5:30pm.
Delicious hot food and beverages will be available for purchase from 5:15pm prior to the commencement of the concert.
Our Music Supporters’ Group have catering items from butter chicken and rice, steamed dumplings, pulled pork tacos, pies, sausage rolls, cakes and sweet treats along with a range of beverages.
Come along, grab dinner, and enjoy the night out!
The PAC Supporters’ Group are looking for parents/carers to assist with the evening.
Please email: pac_supportersgroup@waverley.nsw.edu.au if you can help with donations or service on the night. Any helpers with an RSA would be appreciated.
Raffle tickets are available from the Music Office and will also be sold at the Festival.
*Any unwanted tickets and monies should be sent back to school by Monday, 19 June with your son please.
Please remember to complete your details on the dockets. Great prizes including musical instruments and vouchers! The raffle will be drawn on the night.
Have you heard of the REELise Film Festival? It gives students the chance to see their work on the big screen.
Competition entry is free.
They will also be treated to:
The 2023 REELise Film Festival will screen in Cinema 1 at Randwick Ritz and be live-streamed for an Australian audience on 12 August 2023.
Wow!
There are three age divisions: Junior (10-12 years), Intermediate (13-15 years), and Senior (16-18 years).
This year’s competition theme is ‘Footprint’ designed to elicit storytelling about how our actions or inactions imprint on our lives and the lives of others.
We wish all entrants best of luck!
Click here to view detailed information and to enter
The George William Rummery Music Scholarship is awarded annually as a means of encouraging students to realise their potential and strive for excellence. The scholarship is a gift of the Rummery family, in memory of their son George (Class of 1986).
This scholarship is ongoing and covers full or partial remission of music tuition and instrument hire fees from Years 7 to 12.
Applicants should either be currently enrolled or have applied to enrol at the College.
Applications close: Thursday, 1 June 2023
Auditions: Wednesday, 7 June 2023
Students who wish to apply should read the information for candidates, complete an application form and send it to kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Both of these are on our website under the ‘Scholarships and Bursaries’ tab, and can be viewed by clicking the button below.
Click here to view information about the George William Rummery Scholarship
Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact Ms Keiran Kossenberg: 02 9369 0623.
Ms Keiran Kossenberg
Performing Arts Centre (PAC) Coordinator
Thank you to all who attended the Music Supporters’ AGM last Thursday evening.
We wish to thank our Music Supporters’ Committee for their help and assistance each and every year. This year we farewell Karen Birrell as Treasurer and thank her for her many years of assistance.
New members are welcome. If you are interested in joining the Music Supporters’ Group please email pac_supporters@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We would like to congratulate Ben Cromer (Year 9) and João Coelho-Cornelius (Year 10) on becoming finalists in the Mosman Youth Art Prize. The Prize, created by Australian artist Ken Done AM in 1988, celebrates and fosters ‘Artists of the Future.’
Both students participated in the Summer Visual Arts Club and their artworks from this co-curricular were entered into the Prize. The Summer Visual Arts club explored textures and sculptural forms through ceramics.
Students from the Junior and Senior Schools experimented with natural and synthetic textures to create impressions in clay. Moving around the College campus, students collected, imprinted, designed and manipulated textures to create varying forms of three-dimensional artworks.
Developing a range of handbuilding skills such as pinch pots, slabs and coiling techniques, students created independent designs ranging from functional to sculptural pieces to create an individual body of work over the summer.
Local Australian ceramicists were referenced as inspiration for each new form of sculpture, allowing students to research varying ways of working in the ceramic medium to control balance and composition.
Ben and João’s artworks are on display at the Mosman Art Gallery until 7 June, 2023.
Joao Coelho-Cornelius (Year 10)
The Annual Piano Competition is open to all students, those enrolled in the Instrumental Music Program within the College, and also students who may take lessons externally.
The Competition offers an opportunity for students to show off their very best playing whilst under the scrutiny of a respected invited adjudicator. It provides a chance to build confidence and performing skills in front of an audience, including their peers, as well as the incentive to learn and prepare repertoire to the highest level possible.
Additionally, it allows the occasion to hear other students in the same area of study and to compare performances and receive helpful notes from an expert adjudicator.
It’s all about taking part and enjoying both the process and chance to share your music with others … and possibly take away one of the prizes on offer for each Division!
Winners will be offered the privilege of performing at the Waverley College Chamber Music Festival, to be held later in the year.
2021 Inaugural Piano Competition
Students are required to complete the Google Form by clicking the button below.
Click here to complete the Google Form
Click the button below to view the ‘Terms and Conditions’ for entry.
*Get thinking about what you would like to play, and submit your application form by Tuesday, 30 May 2023.
We look forward to an exciting contest and celebrating the work of the piano students!
Click here to register via QR code
Piano Competition 2022
This year, the Annual Music Camp will primarily focus on the development of the Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, the College Choir and Guitar Ensemble. We will endeavour to improve the standard of our young musicians, expand their repertoire and strengthen relationships among the musicians of the College.
The Music Camp will be held at Kiah Ridge, Tahmoor and provide the opportunity to develop and strengthen the level of musicianship across all participating ensembles; specialist music tutors are employed to assist in this process along with the Waverley College full-time music staff.
It is strongly encouraged that all boys participating in the above groups attend this residential music camp.
Parents/carers need to complete the excursion permission slip below by Friday, 12 May 2023 please.
Click here to view and complete the excursion permission slip
The Music Supporters’ Group AGM will be held on Thursday, 4 May at 4:30pm in the Performing Arts Centre. The meeting will be held in Room P11 on the lower level of the PAC.
Please come along and find out about the Music Supporters’ Group, upcoming events and ways to become involved.
Christina Leonard is the current President of the Music Supporters’ Group and can be contacted by email: pac_supportersgroup@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please get in touch if:
New members are always welcome! We look forward to seeing many of you at this meeting.
Deposits for the Music Tour to Europe including cities such as Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Padua, Lausanne and Milan in June 2024 are due by Friday, 26 May 2023.
The European Music Tour is open to all new and existing Waverley College musicians, choir and ensemble members.
Should your son be interested in attending and you need any further information regarding the tour, please contact the Music Office.
The Cliff Goodchild Concert Band and The Matthew Coorey Concert Band will combine to perform in the ANZAC Day Commemoration Service at Waverley Park on Tuesday, 25 April 2023.
Please arrive by 6:30am at the Performing Arts Centre Recital Room, Waverley College. Students will then walk to Waverley Park as a group for a 7am start.
Student attire for this event is: full school uniform including blazer with polished shoes.
The ceremony commences at 7:45am at Waverley Park Cenotaph.
Students will also perform on Monday, 24 April for the ANZAC Day Commemoration Service and Parade at the College.
Parents/carers are welcome to attend. The ceremony commences at 12:15pm.
*Please click the button below to indicate the number of persons attending this ceremony.
Click here to complete the Google form
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
Watch our video
