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Reprise showcase at Newcastle Conservatorium of Music shows off HSC stars

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:58:13 AEST

Brad Hughes' band has just signed a deal with the former manager of ACDC. Makayla Forbes has mastered five instruments and overcome her fear of performing on stage.

Despite their impressive achievements, the two 18-year-olds say it was a "massive deal" to perform at the Reprise showcase held at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music on Friday.

The annual concert pulls together the most exceptional performances of Higher School Certificate students from around the Hunter and Central Coast in the Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension examinations.

"Even to be selected is huge really. Out of all the auditions they get sent it's a massive deal to be selected," Brad, a former Narara Valley High School student, said.

For Fletcher's Makayla Forbes, a former student of Callaghan College, singing Sia's "really big" power ballad Chandelier represents the huge steps she has made in high school.

Makayla said that when she was first selected for Callaghan's Creative and Performing Arts Program she was "not a performer", and is still "shy".

"I play ukulele, guitar, saxophone, piano and I also play glockenspiel," Makayla said. "Ever since Year 7 I have been performing at assemblies, events, festivals. I wanted to do it but the purpose of it was to get involved in heaps of things so I could break that shell. Now I enjoy it, it's really cool."

Makayla is just about to begin a Bachelor of Music at the University of Newcastle with the hope of going into music education or therapy.

"For me music is something … I do struggle with anxiety so music is something I can sit down, chill out and enter a completely different world," she said.

Brad's performance marked a new era for the drummer.

The Lisarow resident has recently decided to take a gap year to tour with his band, The Witching Hour, after a rapid ascent in recognition. Within the last two months, the band has topped Triple J Unearthed's chart with the single Lay you down and signed a management deal with Australian music veteran Michael Browning.

The former guitarist said taking up the drums was an "accident".

"One day I sat down at the drums and I just knew how to play. I don't know how, I was able to do a beat," Brad said.

After seven years of studying the instrument, Brad now aspires to the prowess of The Beatles' Ringo Starr and Led Zeppelin's John Bonham.

"They just have a great feel for the music," he said.

"They work to serve the songs."

On Friday Brad performed Black Sabbath's Rat Salad, which he re-arranged to include a "battle" between him and another drummer.

"I knew to get put up for the Reprise I had to do something out of the box."

Hunter students reprise HSC performances for showcase

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:06:17 AEST

BEST mates Jayden Webb and Harvey Durrance describe it as “fate”.

Both former Cardiff High students started playing the guitar in year five after being given blue instruments.

Both chose to study Music 1 for the Higher School Certificate, with each performing two solo pieces and then teaming up for two duets for their final practical exam.

On Friday, both Jayden and Harvey were among the 15 students selected to play at The University of Newcastle Conservatorium as part of Reprise, a showcase of the best performances by Hunter HSC music students. “We backed up some friends last year and came as audience members the year before, so it’s pretty amazing to be brought back this year as an example for younger students,” Jayden said.

The pair – both electric guitarists – performed Steve Vai’s Get The Hell Outta Here to close the show. “It’s about conflict and resolution,” Jayden said. “We battle each other line for line, solo for solo. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and that’s why we compare and contrast so well. The piece reflects our real-life friendly banter.”

Harvey said the pair had been involved with school productions and gigs since year seven, so were “battle hardened” for their exams. He also paid tribute to their teacher, Rod Glassop, who taught them “when things start to go pear shaped, fight harder”.

The friends are the only Hunter students who will perform in Sydney Opera House on February 19 as part of Encore, a showcase of the best students in the state. They will perform Orianthi’s Highly Strung. Jayden said Encore has been their goal since year eight. “For that fantasy to become reality is just insane.”

Hunter students perform HSC Music pieces in Reprise showcase

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:14:08 AEST

CHLOE Brown has sung Etta James’ At Last hundreds of times over the past four years.

“I say I’m sick of it, but then I hear the music start and I just think ‘I absolutely love this song’,” Chloe said.

“It’s like hearing it for the first time all over again.”

The former Mount View High, Cessnock, student sang the song to open Reprise, a showcase held on Friday at the the University of Newcastle's Conservatorium, comprising 16 exceptional performances from last year’s Higher School Certificate Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension practical examinations. “I’m really excited – it’s affirmed all of the hard work I put in.”

Former Belmont High student Tom Johnson sang a ballad version of Gavin DeGraw’s Not Over You. “It’s changed every time I’ve sang it, it’s just got better,” he said.

Tom has common variable immune deficiency disorder and sat his HSC over two years. He received early entry to study Creative Arts (Music) in Wollongong and hopes to be a high school music teacher.

“I want to give back, to repay what I’ve been given.”

Hunter musicians shine in Reprise, a showcase of the best HSC music performances

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:39:57 AEST

JAMIE Razon has been singing “ever since I left the womb”, so she was not going to let glandular fever stop her from giving one of the most important performances of her life.

The former Lake Macquarie High student fell sick before her Higher School Certificate music performance exam after months of juggling her studies with professional gigs, but still managed to receive a mark of 94 out of 100.

“It was a challenge, but I love challenges,” Jamie, 18, said.

“The nerves and adrenaline pulled me through. I love music so much I thought ‘I still have to go on, regardless’.”

Jamie was among 20 performers who returned to the stage on Friday as part of Reprise, a sold-out showcase at the Conservatorium of Music of the most exceptional performances from the 2015 HSC.

Event organiser and Warners Bay High music teacher Chris English said he had “no doubt” the performers would inspire and motivate the 420 current HSC music students in the audience.

Jamie performed Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing, which she sang as part of her HSC alongside Jennifer Hudson’s Mama Makes Three, Alicia Keys’ version of How Come You Don’t Call Me and Stand from the musical Smash.

“Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson are my idols,” said Jamie, who has been having singing lessons since she was 10 and performing professionally since she was 12.

“My goal is to be able to record and write my own songs and create my own music.

“I would love to one day have a stadium tour like Beyonce, it’s great how she can work a crowd.

“I get so nervous beforehand, but when I’m on stage it’s the best feeling ever.

“I love it, it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Former Cardiff High student Jeremy Naylor, 18, performed Wonderful Slippery Thing by Guthrie Govan on electric guitar.

It was one of four jazz-rock fusion songs by Govan he chose to play for his HSC, in which he also received a mark of 94 out of 100.

“The way he writes songs and the ideas he conveys, I thought they were new and refreshing,” said Jeremy, who picked up the instrument when he was nine.

“They spoke to me like no other music has before.”

Jeremy is part of a trio with a bassist and drummer and said his goal was to tour the club circuit as a professional musician.

“Playing guitar is the most natural thing I’ve ever done, it’s the best way to express how I feel.”

Jamie and Jeremy are both studying for a Bachelor of Music at the University of Newcastle.

Hunter's Music Students Showcase Their Star Power

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:34:15 AEST

THE Hunter’s most talented music students have come together at the inaugural Reprise showcase, to perform works by artists ranging from composer William Schuman to rock band The Mars Volta.

Warners Bay High music teacher and Reprise founder Chris English said he was a ‘‘big supporter’’ of Encore, an annual program at the Sydney Opera House of outstanding performances and compositions by students from the previous year’s Higher School Certificate Music examinations.

‘‘But it can be difficult for schools around the Hunter to get to,’’ Mr English said.

‘‘This was an opportunity to showcase the outstanding talent we have in the region, in front of Hunter school groups to give them a tangible idea of the calibre of what is expected from them in their upcoming studies.’’

The 14 state school students who performed on Friday were selected for inclusion by a panel of HSC markers, after their teachers sent in video submissions.

Teya Duncan, 18, said she was ‘‘honoured’’ to perform at Reprise, where she sung Popular from the musical Wicked.

‘‘I remember seeing a solo female vocalist at Encore and that really showed me what I needed to do to get a band six mark,’’ she said.