CMC VIRTUAL SOLOIST CONCERT
Aleisha Parkes - Solo Clarinet
Piece title: Jazz Etude No. 2 (Grade 4 AMEB) by Oscar (Emmanuel) Peterson and arranged by Howard Harrison
Senior student Aleisha has played clarinet since year 5 within school programs and ensembles. She has completed her grade 3 AMEB exam and performs as a senior member of the woodwind ensemble and concert band. Her performance experience includes Soloist Concerts, the QLD Catholic Colleges Music Festival and our CMC College musicals.
Ana Varayud - Solo Voice
Title: 'Where I Stood' by Missy Higgins.
Ana is a Year 9 student who has studied vocal performance for seven years and has participated in multiple choirs. She has also been a part of CMC singers since Year 8 and CMC choir since Year 7. This was Ana’s third Soloist Concert, as well as other experience singing solos on stage. She has completed two vocal exams through Trinity College London and Ana’s ability to express music through her voice and face is always a wonderful contribution to our Concert program.
Aleisha Parkes - Solo Dance
Piece title: Give me Love by Ed Sheeran
Choreographer: Aleisha Parkes, (created the routine especially for this virtual event – in the space of a week)
Style: Contemporary/Lyrical
Aleisha has been dancing since the age of four in dance genres including tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary/lyrical and physical culture in which she now teaches younger students. Throughout her time at Clairvaux MacKillop College, this talented musicians, dancer and choreographer and continues to be actively involved in dance troupe, dance as a subject college productions and concerts.
Ambrose Roberts - Solo Saxophone
Title: Moonlight Air by Kerin Bailey.
Ambrose is in Year 9 and plays six instruments: including clarinet, saxophone, guitar, trumpet, vocals and percussion. One of our most active musicians within the ensemble program Ambrose is a member of the Soul Band, Stage Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Woodwind Ensemble, Choir, Singers, Guitar Ensemble and Drumline.
Alexander Burovanov – Solo clarinet
Title: ‘A Wily Bossa’ by Kerin Bailey
Alex is one of our school captains who has been learning the Clarinet for eight years. As well as this, he also has enjoyed playing the Tenor Saxophone and Bass Clarinet through his time at Clairvaux as they have allowed him to further extend his jazz repertoire. Alex has played all three of these instruments in a range of CMC’s bands including the Concert Band, Clarinet Ensemble & Stage Band. The piece ‘A Wily Bossa’ by Kerin Bailey is a Brazilian style of music called a Bossa Nova, which Alex will perform in his upcoming Grade 5 AMEB clarinet exam later this year.
Caitlin Flood - Solo Flute
Title: ‘Gone Troppo!’ by Andy Firth
Caitlin is a year 9 student who is preparing this piece for her upcoming AMEB 2nd grade flute exam. She has been playing flute for two and a half years and is a member of ensembles such as Concert band, woodwind ensemble, Soul Band, Singers and Flute Choir. This was Caitlin’s first solo performance on flute.
Caitlin Kennedy (Piano) & Jade Misa (Voice)
Title: ‘When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars
Jade and Caitlin are Year 12 students who study General Music and Music Extension. This piece is one of their very last performances at CMC. These two students prefer to perform as a duo and this is one of the first times that Caitlin has accompanied on the piano as Jade usually plays the guitar for the duo. Caitlin and Jade have been studying music for six years and have learnt a lot of new things about developing performing confidence through classroom and co-curricular experiences.
Chloe Wood - Solo Violin
Accompanied by Ms Sarah Kirk
Title: ‘Sonatonsatz’ by Brahms
Chloe Wood is a Year 11 music student who has been playing violin for almost nine years. She is concert master violinist in the CMC String Ensemble and a member of Stringers and Celtic ensemble here at CMC. Chloe also has experience performing with the Young Conservatorium's Symphony and String Orchestra. This piece has been prepared for her Grade 8 violin exam which Chloe will sit in 2021. It is a late-period romantic piece with various atonal properties which she has worked hard to accurately convey.
Claudia Hassard - Self Accompanied Voice
Title: Holding my Breath (original composition)
Composition notes: This year, year 11 student Claudia has explored the great big world of song writing. She has found this skill to create stories and comfort in her love for music and all that it can do. The ability to create meaning through music is important to Claudia as it allows her and others to express the emotions we are feeling. She would like to hope that these songs challenge others to spend the time to think outside of the box and look at the world in new concepts. This is Claudia’s first time presenting an original song, which is very new and fresh for her.
Music has forever been a passion for Claudia. Engaged in vocal lessons since starting at CMC, she has always felt that singing is her strongest and most experienced performance skill. In addition, it has been fun learning guitar and ukulele since Year 7. This year Claudia took up a new challenge, teaching herself to play piano. To add to an already impressive list of talents, Claudia has participated in College musicals, soloist concerts and performs as a dancer in the College Dance Troupes.
Cleo Bell - Solo Piano
Title: Disney Medley – arranged by Cleo Bell.
Arranging music into a new composition is a big task, one that year 9 student Cleo Bell takes on with great creativity and musical understanding. She found that the biggest challenge for arranging this medley was transitioning between songs. Some of Cleo’s favourite things to do on the piano is creating medley's from songs that are in her head and improvising. Songs included are: I See the Light (Tangled), Go the Distance (Hercules), Beauty and the Beast, Into the Unknown (Frozen 2), Under the Sea (A little Mermaid), Prince Ali (Aladdin) and How Far I'll Go (Moana). Cleo has been learning piano for almost seven years and is currently preparing for her grade 5 AMEB exam.
Dean Sherry - Solo Snare Drum
Title: ‘Roll and Flam’ is composed by Australian drummer/educator Frank Corniola
Dean is a new student to the College this year and the only Year 7 student to be invited to perform in the 2020 Soloist Concert. Dean has joined the Concert Band and is an avid percussionist. This piece is a rudimental-style snare drum recital piece dedicated to one of the composer’s drumming mentors.
Emilie Seydel - Self Accompanied Voice
Title: Thinking of you (original composition)
This song was written in memory of Emilie’s grandmother and was about Emilie’s favourite memories of her. She originally wrote it for herself however it turned into something beautiful that she wanted to share with others.
Emilie has been playing piano since the age of six and singing since she could speak. Emilie wrote her first song in grade 8 and ever since then she has compulsively engaged with song writing. With an impressive folio of 25 completed compositions Emilie still works on hundreds of incomplete songs as she develops her expertise and passion for song writing.
Emma Marcinkowski – Solo Voice
Title: ‘I Want’ by Kodaline
Emma is a senior student who performed this piece for her recent music assessment. While she doesn’t have formal vocal tuition, she has been involved in choirs and singing for music performance assessments since year 11. Emma is also a valued member of the tech crew involved in the production of this virtual concert. This song is about a break up and wanting something you can’t have.
Jamie Howells - Solo Guitar
Title: Merry Go Round of Life by Joe Hisaishi.
Being a classical waltz piece, Yr 11 student, Jamie worked on the technical challenges of the rhythmic and waltz meter throughout the piece. By making some melodic and percussive changes to the piece, he was able to accentuate the style. Jamie has been playing for four years, with no previous performance experience excluding school exams. It was enjoyable and exciting event to be involved and perform.
Andrew Do - Solo Flute
Title: ‘Legend’ by Helen Stowasser.
Andrew is a year 8 student who has been playing in bands since primary school but originally started on keyboard. His conductor told Andrew to swap to flute as there wasn’t many flute players. Ever since then he has continued with the instrument. When preparing this piece Andrew worked through the challenge of ensuring his performance was smooth and lyrical.
Lara Ljubisavlijevic - Solo Keyboard
Riders of the Storm was composed by Ray Manzarek from the Doors. It was originally performed on the first electronic piano, Fender Rhodes, (which unlike previous keyboards used the same keys and hammers as a traditional piano, but activating metal tines instead of strings, thus creating a unique sound). It was the last song recorded by the original band, as Jim Morrison died not long after the recording. Lara loves to also sing the vocal parts in rehearsal.
Jordan Massie - Solo Drum Kit
Title: ‘Another Year’ by Animals as Leaders
Year 11 student Jordan chose to play this song because it is quite technically challenging with different changes in time signature and also a tempo change midway through. This type of progressive rock genre is one of Jordan’s favourite styles to perform.
Jordan got my first drum kit at just 2 years old. He only started getting serious with music when I came to Clairvaux Mackillop College in grade 7. Jordan has joined many ensembles such as Rock Band, Jazz Band, Soul Band, Music Ministry and Drumline as the school’s premier percussionists. He has engaged in many performance opportunities at events like QCMF, Battle of the Rock Bands and previous College Musical Productions. This year Jordan hopes to complete his Grade 7 Drumming exam.
Lilli Stones - Solo Drum Kit
Title: Wake Me Up by Avicii
Lilli is a Year 10 student who has four years of percussion experience. Lilli joined the CMC Drumline as a Year 7 student and became the drummer for the CMC Stage Band in 2019. This piece involves snare drum and high hat solos with a quick tempo.
Mackensie Matheson - Solo Voice
Title: ‘Leaving My Love Behind’ by Lewis Capaldi
Mackensie performed this piece as her final music extension assessment piece for grade 12. Mackensie is one of our Cultural Leaders and has been involved in the Co-Curricular Arts at the College for many years as a singer and a dancer.
Lara Ljubisavljevic – Solo piano
Lara Ljubisavljevic is a year 10 student who was diagnosed with autism at a young age. Her interest in piano came as a surprise to her parents when her teachers informed them that Lara has a pitch perfect and is capable of quickly memorising music. She has achieved a gradings for most of her AMEB exams and last year she was awarded the bronze medal at the Eisteddfod competing against adult performers. Lara is a month away from sitting grade 8 AMEB exam. While Lara is very skilled in classical piano, she is also a very talented jazz musician and works hard in improving her jazz skills.
Beethoven’s Rage Over the Lost Penny (originally named Rondo alla Ingharese quasi un capriccio- Rondo in gypsy style, almost a caprice) is a very fast and energetic rondo piece, often performed as a showpiece by seasoned concert pianists. Lara has bravely picked it up, and regretted several times, when she had to stop practicing due to a wrist pain. The piece is technically the most difficult thing she has ever played. Although it is one of Beethoven’s most famous pieces, it was actually left unfinished and incomplete. It was published after his death, in 1828, by Anton Diabelli.
Maria Houldcroft - Self Accompanied Voice
Title: ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince
Year 11 Music in Practice student, Maria prepared this piece for her class assessment. She has particpated in multiple ensembles since arriving at the College and have performed in the Soloist Concert series since Year 7. Maria has recently joined the CMC Soul Band, Rock Band as well as participating in the Guitar Ensemble for the last couple of years.
Nick McDonald - Solo Guitar
Title: Tomorrow by Silverchair
Nick McDonald is a Year 10 guitarist who has been playing guitar for 8 years. This is Nick’s first performance in a solo setting – he also performs in the CMC Rock band and the Guitar Ensemble.
Patrick Flood – Solo electric guitar (with looping and pedal effects)
Title: ‘Rain’ by Rob Scallon.
Year 11 student, Patrick used a large amount of delay, and so each note had to be perfectly timed to match up with the next. The challenge of live performance when using this technology is a mistake will impact the piece continuously. So while rhythmically challenging and the pressure of accuracy with the pedal, the piece is much harder to perform than it might seem. Patrick has been playing guitar for six years and performs as lead guitarist in the CMC Rock Band.
Rachael Houldcroft - Voice
Accompanied by Miss Grace Cockburn
Title: ‘I Don’t Believe You’ by P!nk
Rachel is a Year 9 student who studies vocal performance with one of our singing coaches, Ms Grace Cockburn since Year 7. She was a part of the 2019 College Musical ‘Legally Blonde’ and brings maturity and emotional expression to our stage.
Alex Manski & Thomas Smith - Saxophone Duet
Title: ‘Jazz Police’ by Gorden Goodwin’s Big Phat band.
This swing jazz piece was originally written for a 20-piece orchestra, but this arrangement was for a saxophone duet. Thomas, who is in Grade 10, has played alto saxophone since primary school in addition to the piano, drums and vocals. He enjoys playing in ensembles such as Concert Band, Stage Band and Jazz Band. Alex, who is in Grade 9, has been playing alto saxophone for over five years now and plays in the Concert Band and most recently has joined the Stage Band. This is Alex’s first performance in a CMC Soloist Concert.
Regina Chen - Self Accompanied Voice
Title: 'Meet Me In The Pale Moonlight' by Lana Del Ray.
Year 11 student Regina is a keen guitarist and in recent years has developed her skills has a vocalist. She has performed in numerous Soloist Concerts and in ensembles such as Singers and Clovers, the Celtic Ensemble.
Thomas Smith & Oliver Chapman – Duet on piano, harmonica and vocals
Title: Piano Man
Piano Man was a piece we learned from scratch to do for a recent year 10 music practical assessment. The students chose this piece because they thought a wide array of people would enjoy it and they enjoyed learning it together. Tom has been learning piano for four years which has helped in classroom music and in his co-curricular pursuits. He is in many ensembles for different instruments such as drums, saxophone and vocal. Oliver has been playing harmonica for a couple of months. He is a member of the guitar ensemble as well as takes guitar lessons.