Centenary Gala Concert brings the house down!
Wednesday 22 June, 2016
More than 1700 guests braved wet and wild Sydney weather to assemble at Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall on Sunday night to witness the performance of a lifetime: Aurora – Dawn of a New Century Centenary Gala Concert.
Co-compered by former Pymble student and Channel 7 newsreader, Melissa Doyle and ABC Classic FM presenter, Guy Noble the Concert featured 600 performers of all ages in a variety of musical performances ranging from classical ensembles and opera to modern medleys and combined symphony and choral arrangements. Pymble Preparatory School musicians stood proudly with past and present students, staff and parents of all ages and shared the unique opportunity of performing specially commissioned works from renowned Australian composers, Luke Byrne and Matthew Hindson, AM.
Luke Byrne’s Aurora incorporates lyrics generated by workshops with Pymble students in Years 7 and 8 and nods to a 1916 newsletter from former sister school PLC Croyden, entitled Aurora Australis, which referred to the dawning of the new Pymble campus.
Matthew Hindson’s Bright Stars represents the developmental journey of students at Pymble, from Preparatory School through to graduation and Alumni.
The Concert, which was two years in the planning, also featured a new arrangement of the much-loved Pymble School Song by composer Dan Walker.
“Tonight we are celebrating our 100th birthday with the greatest gift of all, music,” said Director of Music (and former Pymble student) Mrs Sabina Turner.
“It is a showcase of the outstanding musical talent at Pymble and a celebration of who we were, who we are and who we strive to be in the future.”
The Concert would not have been possible without the vision, talent and drive of Mrs Turner, as well as all the music staff and event support crew who helped behind the scenes. Thank you also to Pymble’s Music Support Group, whose generosity enabled the commissioning of the two bespoke works, and to Concert sponsor, Audi Alto Artarmon for partnering with the College for the Centenary celebrations.
Get the concert DVD
If you missed out or would like to relive this truly superb concert of a lifetime, a DVD is available to purchase.