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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-09-15 Daily Xml
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FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:25): I would like to advise the house of the great success of the 2010 Festival of Music, the 112th year of the concert series. The Festival of Music is a South Australian heritage icon, awarded by Bank SA in association with the National Trust of South Australia. A joint presentation of the South Australian (Public) Primary Schools Music Society and the Department of Education and Children's Services, the annual concert series is the culmination of a choral music education program, as well as a celebration of the excellence of music education in public schools.

The Adelaide Festival of Music is conducted over 12 performances, each with different choristers and young performers. In total, over 230 schools are represented, with more than 6,000 students involved. Each concert features a massed choir of around 455 primary school students from participating public schools across the state accompanied by an orchestra and supported by a performance troupe of primary school students. Students participating in the Festival of Music are trained in their schools by teachers who are supported by staff of the Primary Schools Music Festival Support Service. In addition, each concert showcases six outstanding assisting artists drawn from DECS schools across South Australia.

This year, in collaboration with composer Glyn Lehmann, the Festival of Music presented Heroes, three songs that celebrate heroes who inspire, challenge, excite or entertain. Three primary performance troupes enhanced this commissioned work and the integrated troupe performances were created by Patrick Lim and students. The works that are composed each year are a highlight of the concert series.

Many great South Australian names were incorporated in this year's pieces, and it is my hope that another of my favourite South Australians, suffragette activist Muriel Matters, will be part of the series one day very soon.

It was a great pleasure for me to attend two concerts this year, down from my past best effort which was four. I was lucky this year that on Tuesday 17 August four Florey schools were part of the choir. I would like to mention The Heights School, whose principal is Helen Calvert, and choral trainers, Algis Laurinaitis and John Crafter, with Nemira Stapleton as the accompanist.

I also mention Modbury West school, whose principal Gavin Khan accompanied me on the evening. The choir trainer is the marvellous Anne O'Dea, who has been behind these concerts for many years, along with Jenny Conn, and Vincent Ong is the accompanist. Some of the students from Wandana School, whose principal Donna Beaney does such a fabulous job, were there. I also mention the Redwood Park Primary School, whose principal is Sigrid Sweeney, the choral trainer is Rhoda Emerson and the accompanist is David Porter. Rhoda was also the choral compere mentor of two students from Redwood Park primary, Mia Davies and Emily Eichner.

I also mention that Algis Laurinaitis was the orchestra conductor that evening, and he does a marvellous job with all the children. Another Florey student from East Para Primary School, Alex Hatchard, was a soloist in Who Can Sail?

Again, on 26 August, East Para Primary School was part of concert No.11, and I would like to mention Bob Greaves, the principal and the marvellous Michael McConnochie, who does a fabulous job with the students; and Sonia Bradtke, who was the accompanist. In addition, students from the Modbury Special School were part of the team who produced the drawings used in visuals that accompanied the beautiful Norwegian folk song Who Can Sail?

This state and the many thousands of children who have participated in the Festival of Music since its inception owe a great deal of thanks to successive boards and musical festival teams who have provided the opportunity to perform for families and friends in a marvellous venue and develop a love of music that will serve them well in their lives.

This year's board comprises: president, Peter Scragg; vice president, Max Rayner; treasurer, Wayne Sachs; manager, Suzanne Rogers; administrator, Kevin Williams; director of music, Deborah Hepworth; choir trainer representative, Kirsty Henning; and production manager, Anne O'Dea. The primary schools' music festival team, managed by Suzanne Rogers, consisted of: director of music, Debra Hepworth; deputy conductor, David Jackson; administrator, Kevin Williams; production manager, again the marvellous Anne O'Dea; orchestra manager, Sharon Burgess; office manager, Rachel Neale; troupe managers, Irene Solowij and Maria Stone; and compere managers, Heather McDonald and Denise Stringer.

I can only tell the house how every year numbers of us enjoy the concert. The level of parental involvement, the number of schools that attend from the country and how much the children enjoy the concerts never ceases to amaze me. My own children were part of this series some 15 years ago now, and I think every child who participates thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to be part of a choir. Music plays an integral role in the development of children, and I pay particular thanks to all the teachers who go out of their way to make sure that children have an opportunity to participate not only at an instrumental level but also to be part of a choir.

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