Griffith Regional Theatre was host to the NSW Public Schools Symphonic Wing Orchestra and NSW Public Schools String Sinfonia on Tuesday.
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Both Public and Catholic Schools from the Riverina gathered together in Griffith to participate in workshops, ensembles rehearsals and concerts.
The tour’s concerts and workshops cater for a wide range of abilities, from absolute beginner to the more experienced student musicians.
The Chief Conductor is Stephen Williams, Student Music year 5 – 12 Programs Officer from the State Public School Arts Unit, and has established himself as one of Australia’s most versatile conductors, with an impressive record of achievement in a variety of musical settings.
Thirty-six students representing the NSW Public Schools Symphonic Wing orchestra and 30 students NSW Public Schools String Sinfonia are embarking on this five-day tour that takes them on a journey from Sydney and through the Riverina.
Music Program Officer for the Catholic Office in Wagga Diocese Fi O’Shaughnessy said events like these are especially important for young musicians to come together.
“To give them any musical opportunity you possibly can if they want to play a musical instrument is to have an outlet that allows them to come together is what this is all about, to come together to do concerts and perform.”
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Griffith City Band member Toni Howard is thrilled that three years worth of organising has paid off in such a big way.
“In the last three years the Griffith City Band identified that it was losing members in Griffith, and we thought it was time to do something to initiate music to young people in the town to grow the numbers and make music fun again,” Ms Howard said.
The town band created a volunteer group that set up programs with schools, and then found after a year of working with children, they needed to create a junior band.
“This is the first time we have been visited by the Arts Unit, and today is a culmination of three years of these programs in Griffith, who collaborate with Hillston, Leeton, West Wyalong, Temora schools, so it’s a very inclusive and interactive activity for the kids to be involved in.”
Ms Howard would also like to thank the tireless parents of the students who have volunteered to organise the details which put the event in motion.
The tour will stop in Temora, Darlington Point, Jerilderie, Deniliquin, Wagga Wagga and Tumut.
