Music Co-Curricular
A large number of co-curricular Music activities are available to students in Primary and Secondary. These activities include the following ensembles: Chamber Choir, Treble Choir, Barbershop, Senior Madrigal Singers, Chapel Choir, Wanju Voices, Primary Singers, Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, String Quartets, Mini Minors, Concert Band, Wind Band, Primary Bands, Saxophone Ensembles, Clarinet Ensembles, Flute Ensembles, Swing Band, Small Combo, Senior and Junior Guitar Ensembles.
Students involved in these groups are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances, and some of the ensembles are invited to take part in the annual Music Camp held at New Norcia each year. More information about each of the ensembles is outlined below:
Chamber Choir
(Director: Ms Kath Alexander)
The John XXIII College Chamber Choir was formed in 1994. It is currently the premier choral group in the Secondary College, being one of six choral groups, with 30 - 40 auditioned members ranging from Years 10 to 12. Since its inception, they have performed regularly at concerts within the College, the wider community and overseas.
Tours have been a major focus of the group: 1997 U.K. and France, 2000 Sydney International Festival, 2003 Vienna Festival and European Concert Tour and 2007 and 2010 Llangollen Eisteddfod and U.K. concert tours.
Repertoire consists of high calibre and challenging music ranging from acapella music from the 16th Century to contemporary repertoire. Several recordings have been made over the years. The group have won several awards for Secondary Choral singing and Liturgical and Sacred Choral Singing at the Catholic Performing Arts.
Students attend two rehearsals a week: one sectional rehearsal and one full choir rehearsal. Chamber Choir auditions are held at the end of Term 3 and membership is limited to students from Years 10 to 12 (boys with changed voices).
Barbershop
(Director: Ms Kath Alexander)
Barbershop is a small, elite vocal ensemble open to girls in Years 9 to 12. This ensemble consists of approximately 10 students who sing jazz and contemporary acapella arrangements in four part harmony, teamed with simple choreography. Barbershop singers need to be committed members of the Chamber Choir (Years 10 to 12) or Treble Choir (Years 7 to 9), adept at singing musically and accurately, and engaging performers. Auditions take place at the end of Term 3 each year. The ensemble rehearses once a week before school.
Senior Madrigal Singers
(Director: Ms Kath Alexander)
The Senior Madrigal Singers were formed in 2004 to encourage the more experienced singers to widen their experience of repertoire and take on a more active role in their performances. Ideally the group is a double SATB quartet. They perform regularly at College Recitals and events.
Membership of this group is by invitation. Repertoire for the group is focused around Renaissance acapella repertoire as well as more contemporary acapella works. Rehearsals occur after the full Chamber Choir rehearsal.
Treble Choir
(Director: Mr James Kros)
The Treble Choir is a large auditioned choir open to all students in Years 7 to 9 (boys with unchanged voices). The choir performs regularly at College events and sings a wide range of repertoire. Auditions for this choir take place at the beginning of the year and all students who enjoy singing and performing are encouraged to audition. Rehearsals occur once a week after school.
Chapel Choir
(Director: Mr James Kros)
The Chapel Choir focuses on liturgical music and leads the singing for all College masses and events. Their primary role is to provide the music and lead the singing at the Friday morning Community Mass at 8am each week. This choir is not auditioned and is open to all students in Years 7 to 12. The Chapel Choir rehearses with the Primary Singers on Thursdays before school.
Primary Singers
(Director: Mr James Kros)
The Primary Singers have a very important role: leading the liturgical singing at Primary and College masses and celebrations. This choir is not auditioned and is open to all students in Years 4 to 6 who enjoy singing and performing. The Primary Singers rehearse with the Chapel Choir on Thursdays before school, and are invited to join in leading the singing at Community Masses each Friday morning.
Wanju Voices
(Director: Mr James Kros)
Wanju Voices is an auditioned choir open to all students in Years 4 to 6. The choir focuses on a wide range of two part choral repertoire across a range of musical genres and performs at many College events throughout the year. Auditions for this choir take place at the beginning of the year and all students who enjoy singing and performing are encouraged to audition. Rehearsals occur once a week after school.
Wind Band
(Director: Ms Liz Jennings)
The Wind Band is open to all woodwind, brass and percussion players with a minimum playing standard of approximately AMEB Grade 2. The instruments involved in Concert Band are: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Tuba, Baritone, Euphonium, Timpani, Drum Kit, Percussion, Double Bass and Bass Guitar.
The Wind Band rehearses once a week before school and attendance at rehearsals and sectionals is compulsory. Admission to the band is by audition. Auditions are normally held at the end of Term 3, but additional auditions may be arranged during the year at the discretion of the Director.
Concert Band
(Director: Ms Liz Jennings)
The Concert Band is open to all woodwind, brass and percussion players with a minimum playing standard of approximately AMEB Grade 3. The instruments involved in Concert Band are: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Tuba, Baritone, Euphonium, Timpani, Drum Kit, Percussion, Double Bass and Bass Guitar.
The Concert Band performs a wide range of music, including the soundtracks to Wicked, Gladiator, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Carribbean and Moulin Rouge. The band also plays music by Sculthorpe, Queen, De Falla, Holst and more.
The Concert Band rehearses once a week before school and admission to the band is by audition. Auditions are normally held at the end of Term 3, but additional auditions may be arranged during the year at the discretion of the Director.
Saxophone Ensembles
(Director: Ms Liz Jennings)
The Saxophone Ensembles are open to all Saxophone players with a minimum playing standard of approximately AMEB Grade 2. Ensemble members are also expected to be a member of either Concert Band or Wind Band.
The choice of repertoire is designed to challenge the players, while allowing a high standard of performance at all times. The music ranges from classical to jazz to pop to anything in between!
The Saxophone Ensembles perform at a variety of events including Twilight Concerts, Year Level Recitals, the College Music Eisteddfod and College Soirees. Admission to the ensembles is by audition. Auditions are normally held at the end of Term 3, but additional auditions may be arranged during the year at the discretion of the Director.
Clarinet Ensembles
(Director: Ms Liz Jennings)
The Clarinet Ensembles are open to all Clarinet players with a minimum playing standard of approximately AMEB Grade 2. Ensemble members are also expected to be a member of either Concert Band or Wind Band.
The choice of repertoire is designed to challenge the players, while allowing a high standard of performance at all times. The music ranges from classical to jazz to pop to anything in between!
The Clarinet Ensembles perform at a variety of events including Twilight Concerts, Year Level Recitals, the College Music Eisteddfod and College Soirees.
Flute Ensembles
(Directors: Ms Penny Rinaldi & Ms Emily Clements)
The Junior Flute Ensemble (Year 7-9) and Senior Flute Ensemble (Year 10-12) are open to all Flute players who are learning Flute at or outside the College. Entrance is by audition and students must be members of the Wind Band or Concert Band. The Flute Ensembles perform a wide range of repertoire at various College events throughout the year.
Swing Band
(Director: Gordon Ryder)
Directed by WAAPA graduate and musician Gordon Ryder, the Swing Band is an auditioned instrumental ensemble which plays music in the jazz big band style. The band is made up of approximately 20 advanced musicians who play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass guitar or drum kit. It provides students with the opportunity to play in the jazz style and a chance to solo or improvise. A wide range of repertoire is rehearsed, encompassing jazz standards, Latin jazz, modern jazz and funk. Recently the ensemble has performed a full set at The Ellington Jazz Club and also at the Perth Concert Hall for the Gala Concert. The Swing Band has benefited from unique opportunities such as a workshop with Perth jazz professional Adam Hall, and there are many exciting things ahead for this ensemble. The Swing Band rehearses once a week after school.
Small Combo
(Director: Mr Gordon Ryder)
A new addition to the co-curricular Music program in 2016, the Small Combo is a small group consisting of some of the most advanced instrumentalists in the College. They play a variety of jazz and contemporary repertoire and perform at many events throughout the year. Membership of the Small Combo is by invitation only.
Chamber Orchestra
(Director: Mr James Kros)
The Chamber Orchestra consists of the most outstanding instrumentalists in the College, regardless of age. The Chamber Orchestra has appeared on six College Music Department CDs and was part of the 1997 and 2010 international concert tours. The Chamber Orchestra has been invited to play at numerous out-of-school engagements. They were awarded the Premier of Western Australia award at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival in 2002 and 2003 and performed at the final concert at the Perth Concert Hall. In 2005 the Chamber Orchestra expanded into a small Orchestra in order to expand the repertoire of the group. They perform symphonic repertoire, accompany Year 12 concertos and the Chamber Choir in major works, and occasionally break into small Chamber ensembles to perform Chamber Music repertoire.
The Chamber Orchestra performs at Soirees, Music for Holy Week concerts, Catholic Performing Arts Festivals, competitions, Speech Night and other invited performances throughout the year. Auditions are held at the beginning of each year and rehearsals occur once a week before school.
String Orchestra
(Director: Mr James Kros)
The String Orchestra is made up of string players in Year 4 to 6. All students learning a stringed instrument (Violin, Viola, Cello or Double Bass) at or outside the College are encouraged to join this ensemble. The String Orchestra rehearses once a week before school and performs at the Primary Open Night and Primary Music Soiree each year.
String Quartets
(Director: Mr James Kros)
The Junior String Quartet (Year 7-9) and Senior String Quartet (Year 10-12) were introduced into the Music co-curricular program in 2016 to provide the most advanced string players in the College the opportunity to explore more challenging repertoire. Entrance to the quartets is by audition only, and is open to members of the Chamber Orchestra.
Guitar Ensembles
(Director: Mr Barry Weeks)
The Junior and Senior Guitar Ensemble consist of students in the Primary and Secondary schools and rehearse once a week before school. The ensembles regularly participate in College recitals, Music Eisteddfods and festivals and have been the recipient of numerous outstanding awards from the Classical Guitar Society and Catholic Performing Arts Festival.
