Voices in Harmony
Over 200 Wenona students from Years 3 to 12 wowed their Independent Theatre audience on Wednesday 12 June, with a spectacular range of pieces performed by various choirs.
It was the largest concert of the semester, featuring the three main Wenona School choirs: Junior Choir, Middle School Choir and Senior Choir. Also in the lineup were our smaller, specialised choirs: Petite Voices, Vocal Ensemble and Wenona Singers.
The polished emcees for the evening were Choral Music Captain, Jemima (Year 12), and Junior Performing Arts Captain, Isabel (Year 6). They launched the event by announcing the Wenona Singers who showcased their vocal versatility with three contrasting pieces: Turning Tables, a pop ballad by Adele, Royals, an electropop song from Lorde and The Temptations 1966 Motown hit, Get Ready. It was a performance that left us eagerly anticipating their upcoming performance at next week’s Foundation Day Ceremony.
The stage was then graced by the Middle School Choir, featuring students from Years 7 and 8. They performed a mix of classic and contemporary pieces, including the much-loved Cyndi Lauper song, Time After Time, Andrew Lippa’s Be the Hero from the Tim Burton musical, Big Fish, and the Spice Girls’ empowerment anthem, Stop.
The auditioned choirs, Petite Voices and the Vocal Ensemble, recently had the amazing opportunity to work with the Purdue University Glee Club Choir from the USA. Petite Voices delighted the crowd with Where Go the Boats, by Robert Louise Stevenson, before joining the Vocal Ensemble for a combined performance of Night Fires by Luke Byrne. The Vocal Ensemble then took the spotlight with a beautiful rendition of Fauré’s serene Cantique de Jean Racine.
The Senior Choir, featuring students from Years 9 to 12, shifted the energy and tempo with a powerful rendition of the Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell anthem, What Was I Made For? from the Barbie movie. They then sang I See Stars, from the Broadway production of Mean Girls.
The largest regularly rehearsing musical ensemble in the School is the Junior Choir, made up of girls from Years 3 to 6. They performed Dreaming in the Sky by Australian composer Paul Jarman, Touch the Sky from the Disney Pixar movie Brave, and everyone’s favourite classic, Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music.
The concert ended with a stunning combined choir performance of Adiemus, from Songs of Sanctuary, and the Australian 80s power ballad, You're the Voice, recorded by John Farnham, which was conducted by Ms Kim Lemon.
Overall, it was a phenomenal showcase of the hard work and dedication of the students and staff including Head of Co-Curricular Music (Performance), Mr Cameron Harker, Director of School Operations and Events, Ms Kim Lemon, and all the School’s accompanists and peripatetic teachers.
The event also served as a fitting send-off for Choral Music Captain, Jemima, who was recognised for her strong leadership and positive contribution to the music community at Wenona.