Last Sunday, Melbourne’s magnificent Elisabeth Murdoch Hall was filled with music and singing from Westbourne’s choirs, orchestras, vocalists, and bands. This year’s annual concert – titled Pulse – featured an eclectic program that encompassed a wide range of music, from the traditional to some more modern pieces. Our senior orchestra excelled themselves in producing the wonderful sounds of Anton Dvorak’s hauntingly beautiful From the New World symphony. Our two Performer of the Year award winners gave what could only be described as stellar performances – talented soprano Ruby Streit with one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best-loved songs, Poor Wand’ring One from The Pirates of Penzance, and Claire Nam at the piano for the 1^st movement of Mendelssohn’s 1^st piano concerto. As always, our large and very enthusiastic audience was delighted by the performances from students in the junior and senior choirs, concert choirs, VCE soloists with two songs from popular musicals, Camelot and Carousel and of course Westbourne’s Legends and All Stars Big Bands, both of which have won awards at the Generations in Jazz festival.

 Westbourne’s long tradition of providing extensive opportunities for students of all ages to participate in an outstanding music program, means that, in addition to classroom music, under the guidance of Westbourne’s highly qualified, experienced teachers, students can elect to learn an instrument, extend their vocal skills, or sing up a storm in one of the fully staged, professionally produced musicals.