Girls in Year 2 attend a weekly choir rehearsal which is linked to their Classroom Music program. Year 2 Choir performs at Final Assembly at the end each term, the Annual Ascham Choral Concert and the Hillingdon Strings Concert which is held at the end of the School year.

Learning a musical instrument is a challenging and rewarding undertaking for a young child, and to maximise potential we offer lessons in violin and cello from Preparatory and piano and double bass from Year 1. Half-hour private lessons and half-hour group lessons for cello and violin are also offered on a weekly basis.

Hillingdon musicians have number of opportunities to participate in performances and all girls are strongly encouraged to take advantage of them.

Hillingdon Soirées are held each term and enable Hillingdon Music and Speech and Drama students to give performances in a positive and supportive setting.

Twilight Concerts are held each term and are open to musicians of all abilities. Twilight Concerts are a wonderful opportunity to hear girls from across the School playing in the same concert.

Hillingdon girls who learn a string instrument also participate in a weekly group lesson with a focus on developing ensemble playing skills, sight reading skills and to further enhance their playing posture and technique. Girls who learn a string instrument outside school are strongly encouraged to participate in this program.

Poco Ensemble is an orchestra open to advanced string players from Kindergarten to Year 2. Entry is by audition in which players need to demonstrate some competence in note reading skills, intonation, rhythm and tone.

Music Camp is held at Collaroy for two days and one night in Term 2. All children in the Junior School who are in the orchestras, auditioned choral groups and instrumental groups have the opportunity to attend.

Open Day in the Junior School is held at the end of Term 2. It is a day when parents and any interested friends may visit the school and see the childrens’ work.

Music in Year 3 is divided into three distinctive sections involving a 30-minute choir rehearsal, a 30-minute classroom lesson and a 45-minute group instrumental lesson. The Year 3 Instrumental Program forms a core part of the Music curriculum. The aim of the program is to give every girl the experience of playing an orchestral instrument and participating in a musical ensemble. Playing an instrument provides each girl with the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained during classroom music lessons.

Girls who are already learning a string instrument have the option of participating in the Year 3 String ensemble which rehearses at the same time as the other instrumental group lessons.

Ascham is fortunate to have a large number of excellent instrumental and musicianship teachers. Fiona girls are offered private lessons in Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double bass, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, French horn, Percussion and Guitar.

Many other learning and performance opportunities are available to girls at Ascham. Visiting conductors and performers are often invited to work with an orchestra, choir or ensemble. Girls participating in choirs and instrumental ensembles attend the Annual Fiona Music Camp in Term 2, which culminates in the first major concert of the School year. Other performance opportunities include twilight concerts, soirees and class assemblies.

Music Camp is held at Collaroy for two days and one night in Term 2. All children in the Junior School who are in the orchestras, auditioned choral groups and instrumental groups have the opportunity to attend.

Open Day in the Junior School is held at the end of Term 2. It is a day when parents and any interested friends may visit the school and see the childrens’ work.

• Vivaldi Strings is an orchestra open by audition to good string players from Year 3 to Year 6.
• Corelli Strings is an orchestra open to competent string players from Year 3 to Year 6.
• Kreisler Ensemble is a chamber string orchestra made up of advanced players and the repertoire undertaken by this group of musicians is more challenging.

Each rehearses weekly and girls auditioning will need to demonstrate appropriate reading skills, intonation, rhythm and tone.

• Ascham Grammar: The School participates in a combined string orchestra with Sydney Grammar Preparatory School. This is an advanced ensemble and entry is by audition each November, with a high standard of musicianship required. The Ensemble participates in a chamber music weekend each year in April and in concerts at both Ascham and Sydney Grammar Preparatory School throughout the year.
• Year 3 String Ensemble: is an orchestra open by audition to string players in Year 3 and is designed to develop basic ensemble skills. Girls in this ensemble are welcome to audition for the Corelli, Vivaldi and Kreisler Ensembles.

A number of group programs are available to girls who are either starting out or proficient in brass and woodwind instruments. Most rehearse weekly, with the more advanced groups open by audition:

• The Fiona Training Band is for girls who are beginners on their instruments.
• The Fiona Concert Band is open to girls who have been learning for 1–2 years.
• The Fiona Wind Symphony is an auditioned ensemble at a level of approximately Grade 2 or above.

In addition to our regular Grade Choirs, Fiona offers auditioned choirs which rehearse twice a week:

Larks: choristers are selected by audition, from girls in Years 3 and 4 who are competent singers and interested in singing in a choir. Girls are given the opportunity to widen their choral repertoire in various styles, while developing vocal technique, music reading and choral singing skills.

Nightingales: similar to Larks but for more competent singers in Years 5 and 6 who are interested in singing in a more advanced choir.

Performance opportunities abound at Ascham with large formal concerts in the Packer Theatre, Soirees, lunchtime recitals, less formal Twilight concerts, through to assemblies and performances at various functions.

An annual residential Music Camp is held in both Fiona and Senior School. Alternating annually between Junior and Senior schools, a musical production is presented. Some are extravaganzas with a large cast; many senior productions are combined with neighbouring boys’ schools.

Each year Fiona girls combine with girls from Brisbane’s Somerville House in a Junior Music Festival that alternates between Sydney and Brisbane. Fiona string players also have the opportunity to audition for a chamber orchestra combined with boys from the Sydney Grammar Prep school.

The classroom music program places a strong focus on participation in performance, singing and group work. Music literacy is progressively acquired and internalised. Courses are streamlined to meet the girls’ needs.

Students learning an instrument or voice at Ascham are encouraged to participate in an ensemble. The program aims to give every student the experience of playing or singing with others.

Private lessons are offered in an extensive range of instruments including: piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, french horn, percussion and guitar.

Many other learning and performance opportunities are available to girls at Ascham. Visiting conductors and performers are often invited to work with an orchestra, choir or ensemble. Girls participating in choirs and instrumental ensembles attend the Annual Senior Music Camp in Term 2, which culminates in the first major concert of the School year.

Other performance opportunities include an annual Strings, Brass and Woodwind and Choral Concert, twilight concerts, Vocal Recital and chamber concerts. There is also a biannual Senior Musical involving visitors from other boys’ schools.

The symphony orchestra is an auditioned ensemble that consists of the more advanced players from many of the other ensembles in the School.

Ascham Strings and Sinfonietta are open for entry by audition in which players need to demonstrate competent reading skills, intonation, rhythm and tone.
Camerata is a chamber string orchestra, made up of advanced players and with a more challenging repertoire.

In Guitar Orchestra girls are able to develop their ensemble skills by playing a wide range of music. The ensemble uses different types of guitars including Bass and special Treble instruments. They rehearse one morning every week.

Concert Band is a large ensemble that rehearses one morning per week. The group consists of more a range of intermediate to advanced wind and brass players.

Ascham also offers a vibrant chamber music program for a large range of instruments and will create an ensemble for a particular combination of girls if required. We encourage our pianists to join in chamber groups to broaden their ensemble experience.

We offer all Senior girls the opportunity to participate in Junior Choir (years 7-9) or Senior Choir (years 10-12). Auditions are held for voice placement only and all students are offered a place. These choirs often participate in the annual Sydney Eisteddfod.

Ascham offers three auditioned chamber ensembles for voice. These girls perform at a high level and frequently perform in concerts and eisteddfods. Girls in these ensembles are also members of Senior or Junior Choir.

This is an auditioned ensemble that consists of dedicated choristers from Years 6–12 who commit extra time to their vocal work. This group is regarded as one of our flagship choral groups which enters eisteddfods and has toured overseas.