MORE than 70 budding musicians across the Western suburbs performed alongside their professional counterparts last Thursday evening in a concert at Sunshine College’s senior campus.
The Mentors of Orchestra Victoria Education (mOVe!) program saw the students participate in a two-day musical clinic before performing in front of Orchestra Victoria managing director Peter Garnick and Western Chances’ founder Terry Bracks a selection of works they had rehearsed.
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet Medley and Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King were two of eight works rehearsed.
The workshop was a joint venture between Orchestra Victoria and Western Chances to extend students’ ensemble playing and instrumental techniques under the guidance of professionals.
The group rehearsed with trained professionals under conductor Nicholas Carter.
Students were selected in accordance with their involvement in music.
The majority have already been classed as grade four or five Australian Music Examinations Board-trained students.
Mr Garnick said the program is an important exercise for future generations of musicians.
“The mOVe! workshops are probably the most important thing that Orchestra Victoria does to ensure the future of fine music in Victoria,” he said.
This is the fourth year that mOVe! has been available in Melbourne’s West.
