Page 48 - Southwell School Year Book 2020

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
SOUTHWELL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Back Row: 4th Row: 3rd Row:
2nd Row: Front Row: Absent:
Julia Chang, Aditya Manda, Stanley Lin, Amirdha Kanchi, Dominic Freyberg, Conan Chen, Shanaz Chen
Roy Zhu, Thomas Priest, Poppy McKay, Harper Mills, Sarah Wang,
Adam Chapman, Leon Wu
Mr K. Rees-Gibbs (Teacher), Nikita Lanka, Dannielle Hamblin-Manderson, Daniel Zhao, Jacqueline Li, Joy Liao, Frances Gregory,
Mrs V. Trenwith (Conductor)
Alex Ko, Vivian Lu, Sangjoon Lee, Lani Jarrett, Richard Wang, Leon Lee, Ray Zhang
Ryan Lu, Zara McIntyre, Caroline Glander, Gabriella Schuitemaker, Juliette Neil, Avinash Patel, Sam Arthur, Gordon Chen
Len Zheng
46
Southwell School Yearbook 2020
JAZZ BAND
Back Row: 2nd Row:
Front Row: Absent:
Sangjoon Lee, Jesse Chen, Adam Chapman, Leon Wu, Thomas Priest
Mr K. Rees-Gibbs (Teacher), Daniel Zhao, Nikash Lanka, Lachlan Mollard, Harper Mills, Mrs V. Trenwith (Director)
Leon Lee, Benjamin Lou, Roy Zhu, Kyra-Mae Wilson, Zane Merson, William Rushbrooke
Len Zheng
Despite the challenges of Covid-19, a lockdown, and different interruptions that 2020 presented us with, the Symphony Orchestra has ourished this year. We have played a wide repertoire, from a Medley by Journey to an American Copland-style piece called Cumberland Cross, to a sweeping and symphonic suite from The Polar Express. The students have worked so hard to be the best they can be - it has been absolutely inspiring to watch them work together to create magnicent music.
Despite the challenges of not playing together, the orchestra brought a special online Covid-19 collaboration to life in the form of You Raise Me Up. With over 11,000 views on Facebook the performance touched many hearts in a time when many New Zealanders were struggling with the enormity of what the world was facing. We were grateful to be able to also perform this to a very moved audience on Grandparents' Day.
Despite all that 2020 has thrown at us we have relished the opportunity to come together week after week to spend time together and bond through music... and what great music! I am beyond proud of what the students have accomplished. They have played with maturity and musicianship beyond their years, and I have been consistently impressed by their positivity and determination. I am already excited to make music with those students who will remain in 2021. To those who go on to the next chapter in their story, I wish you all the best for more wonderful music making. May you continue to grow as musicians and enjoy every opportunity to make music together.
Victoria Trenwith Conductor
Jazz Band is one of my Southwell highlights - and I am sad it is over. As a trumpet player I have the pleasure of hearing the music come together and love hearing it when it is perfected. Our set includes songs from the 1960s (Aretha Franklin) up to the more recent Bruno Mars. With Kyra-Mae Wilson and Benjamin Lou on vocals and a full band of three saxophones, ve trumpets, two trombones, two keyboards, two clarinets, one bass and a very awesome conductor, the Jazz Band rocks the party wherever we play.
We practise hard and master the pieces so that Mrs Trenwith can do her magic and put it all together and make it sound fabulous. She often says “Music is like a puzzle, if there is one piece missing it ruins the whole picture.” This pushes all of us to do our best and not be the one puzzle piece which isn't there.
2020 has been a crazy year for us. But the music- driven Trenwiths, Mrs McIntyre, and many others, did not let Covid-19 stop them from getting us to play music. Mr and Mrs Trenwith organised music and sent it out to us to learn and perfect at home. Mrs McIntyre also organised a piece of music for the choirs and did a video online to teach them their part. After learning the pieces, students played, plucked and sang their part to a camera in their own homes. Mr and Mrs Trenwith then edited and put it all together and made it into an online MASTERPIECE!!!
This brought smiles to everyone who watched it because it showed Covid-19 couldn't stop music being played by Southwell students!
Thomas Priest Jazz Band Member