End-of-year music concert

We had a busy weekend.

First up on Saturday morning Belmont Music Centre (BMC) had its end-of-year concert.

We were up bright and early for that, arriving soon after 8am to unlock and help set up before the concert started at 10am.

(I wrote previously about how we've recently got more involved at BMC.  With still no manager as yet, my Big Sis has been helping out by doing the essential manager-duties to keep the Centre from closing.  I've been there when needed as her assistant.)

A few dozen BMC students (and most of the teachers) performed in various ensembles and bands during the concert, which lasted an hour and three quarters.  They all did an amazing job, and we were thoroughly entertained throughout.

The concert also doubled as a 50th anniversary birthday party for BMC, which first opened its doors in 1969.  Apparently, BMC started when the headmasters of three local schools -- Belmont Intermediate, Belmont Primary and Bayswater Primary -- got together and set things in motion for a Saturday morning Ministry of Education-(partly-)funded music centre.

The schools' opinion was that the local children's music education would best be developed by the schools joining forces and recruiting specialist expert music teachers to teach their children out of school hours.  Lesson fees were to be kept as low as possible to reach as many families as possible, with volunteers donating their time to help the kids.  A committee was formed, and teachers and a supervisor (now manager) hired.  The rest, as they say, is history.

It was all a bit like a Dr Who special, with previous supervisors and managers attending as VIP guests.  It was inspiring to meet BMC's first supervisor Oonah Caldwell.  Betty Dance, the supervisor when I was a student there in the mid-80s, also attended.

Mulan and Miya were also kept busy.  Before the concert, in between band warm-ups, they joined in with several other children to set up the decorations.

They were also active participants in the concert:

• Mulan and Miya played recorder together as a duet (and trio with their teacher).
• Mulan played flute in the wind ensemble (with one other student and their teacher).
• Mulan played cello while Miya played violin in the string ensemble.

Immediately after the string ensemble finished playing the final piece of the concert we had to pack and go, driving straight to the girls' end-of-year ballet show (we arrived at the ballet theatre less that 30 minutes before the dress rehearsal started -- we'd warned their ballet teacher in advance that they'd be a bit late!).

Unfortunately this meant that we missed the BMC prize-giving and party.  Both Mulan and Miya were awarded prizes in absentia.  Mulan, who will be too old to re-enrol next year, was one of a few students who were awarded medals for senior excellence.

(I'll write about the ballet show when I get time later.)