Moriah on tour
Sixty members of Sydney’s Moriah College Band/Orchestra are about to leave on a tour of the USA and Israel.
The Moriah orchestra under the baton of Brian Buggy
This is the sixth and the largest group of students that we have taken on an International Tour” explains Moriah’s Director of Music, Roberta Goot. “What is even more exciting is that for the first time, we are taking a full Symphony Orchestra on Tour. We have devoted a lot of energy into our String program over the last few years and now we are reaping the benefits. Our String players have grown from strength to strength and form a world-class ensemble on their own, as well as combining with our hard-working Wind, Brass and Percussion players to form an outstanding Symphony Orchestra.”
The participating students are drawn from Years 7 to 11 with most of them having been involved in school music since Year 3.
Year 8 student Eden Cohen, who plays both Clarinet and Saxophone says “the Tour has unlocked a passion for Music that I never realised I had. The experience of working hard as a group to achieve such an exciting outcome has been wonderful. The Music Program has given us so many opportunities that continuously push us to realise our personal best and the many friendships made and the satisfying feeling of improvement every Sunday morning has honestly made the tour a spectacular school experience.”
Year 11 student Jonah Ende is one of three participants who are on their second International Music Tour. “From our first rehearsal it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come,” he says. “It’s ten years since my first Violin, and nine years since my first Trumpet lesson. I had no idea where or how far this opportunity would take me. I’m so grateful to travel again with the Tour Band and this time with the Orchestra also. My last Tour was in 2011 as one of the younger members of the group and I’m now looking forward to being one of the more senior students.”
The Moriah musicians will perform in San Diego and New York. In California the Disneyland recording studios will host the Sydney musicians where they will be taught sight-reading techniques, performance concepts and how to lay down music treats. The Moriah orchestra will record a score to original Disney film footage.
The Moriah Band and Orchestra will perform jazz, klezmer, Broadway hits, classical and contemporary music.
