Ballarat Clarendon College Symphony Orchestra students recently had the unique opportunity to participate in a workshop led by Leonard Weiss CF, a distinguished conductor from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The three-hour session proved to be a remarkable experience for Performing Arts students to improve their skills and musical understanding.
Sarah Nieuwkerk, Conductor of the Ballarat Clarendon College Symphony Orchestra, praised the students’ commitment, stating, “When a conductor of Leonard’s calibre stood in front of the BCCSO, the focus and effort the students employed to make the most out of the opportunity was truly remarkable.”
Reflecting on the workshop, Angela Hengel (Year 11) exclaimed, “Overall, it was such a great experience. I loved everything!”
Poppy Robertson (Year 10) shared her experience, saying, “My favourite part was working on putting more energy and emotion into different parts. It really helps build the song together.”
Leonard highlighted the collaborative spirit of the workshop. “My highlight was sharing music with parents and families and seeing the combination of all the hard work in these couple of hours come together,” he shared.
The workshop with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra marked a significant milestone for the students, aiding not only their musical development but also highlighting the invaluable impact of mentorship and dedication.
Head of Performing Arts, Steven Belcher, expressed gratitude for the unique learning opportunity facilitated by Sarah. “It was fantastic to offer this opportunity to our students,” he remarked. “Our students were terrific in how they presented themselves, took the feedback from Leonard on board and really grew in their individual and ensemble playing throughout the workshop. I was very proud of them.”
We look forward to seeing the Ballarat Clarendon College Symphony Orchestra perform at the upcoming music showcase next week.
Book your tickets now at bit.ly/4fhT78i
Music showcase – Born to Perform
Date: Saturday 3 August
Location: St Patrick’s College Performing Arts Centre