Forward December 2014 | Page 24

SENIOR SCHOOL Music tour: Singapore It was a cold, dark but thankfully dry morning on July 9, when 34 students and three staff from Guildford Grammar School descended upon Perth International Airport. Our Destination: Singapore Our Mission: To bring a truly Australian musical experience to another country. Twenty-eight members of the Guildford Grammar School ‘Jarockaphonic’ ensemble, six members of the ‘Boodjar Bidi Dance Troupe’ and three lucky staff members dutifully boarded the Qantas flight and were off into the wild blue yonder. We had been invited to perform in the ‘Euphonious’ concert event, an evening at the Singapore Conservatory that featured two groups from Australia and two groups from Singapore. We were also to partner with Edgefield Secondary School, meaning that our touring party of 34 grew to a performing group of well over 70. As a part of the tour, our students participated in workshops and cultural exchange programs with the students of Edgefield Secondary School as well as performing at the Euphonious Concert and at an Old Guildfordians’ Reunion. The performances were an overwhelming success, with the large group – as well as the smaller groups of the Senior Rock Band, Boodjar Bidi Dancers and G-Funk – performing brilliantly at every opportunity. The Boodjar Bidi boys were even fortunate enough to be chosen as the opening act for the ‘Euphonious’ event – therefore opening an international show in front of an audience of around 2000 people. Of particular note was the Old Guildfordians’ function, where the students provided a corporate show, dance and background music. This was a rare opportunity for the students to see what life is like in a corporate band. The tour also gave the students the opportunity to partake in some of the more tourist-orientated activities for which Singapore is justifiably famous. As a part of the tour we visited The Gardens by the Bay, Universal Studios, Sentosa Island, Little India, Chinatown, Orchard Road, Changhi Prison memorial and many, many other places. The boys learned martial arts, traditional arts and crafts and even tried their hand at ancient Malay gambling games – all under the watchful eyes of the staff, of course! The tour group was constantly congratulated on their wonderful behaviour and polite, mature attitudes. If the success of a tour can be measured in any physical form, it must be that every student came back with 5kg of luggage more than that with which they departed. Thank you in particular to the Senior School students and to Mr Edmonds and Mr Beck for their help throughout the tour. See you all on the next one! Mr Kieran Hurley Head of Music 24