News

A beautiful, handmade and specially commissioned harpsichord now stands in the Music Gallery at Pymble Ladies’ College for students and staff to enjoy and appreciate.

The Ruckers Double Harpsichord was delivered to the College on Wednesday 27 March which prompted some Pymble piano students and scholars to play some beautiful renditions on the newly acquired instrument.

“The harpsichord is a magnificent instrument that produces unique and beautiful music and looks stunning in the Music Gallery,” said College Principal, Mrs Vicki Waters. “The blue hand painted exterior is complemented by Flemish printed papers on the keywell soundboard rim and interior lid and the soundboard is decorated in Australian flora and fauna motifs hand painted by Pymble 1959 ex-student, Diana Ford.”

The harpsichord, ordered in February 2011, took a year to make. It was custom designed and built by Carey Beebe Harpsichords. Carey used his expertise of making harpsichords for the past thirty years to create an exquisite instrument made from a combination of French Oak, Swiss Pine and African Ebony.

The Latin mottos on the interior lids of the harpsichord are translated to ‘Music –the companion of sorrow, the healer of suffering’ and ‘Rejoice for we are young’ are fitting for a harpsichord at the College, an instrument that will be enjoyed by the College community and one that will delight audiences in years to come.

The harpsichord dates back six centuries and was widely used in Renaissance and Baroque music. During the late 18th century it gradually disappeared from the musical scene but has risen in popularity over the past century appreciated for its historical significance and beautiful sound.

Last Monday Katrina Tang (Year 12, 2012) performed in the Encore Concert at the Sydney Opera House that showcased some of the best performances from last year’s HSC. She played Andaluza by Manuel de Falla and was one of only two pianists chosen to perform. Her performance was brilliant and she was a very fine musical ambassador for the College.

Pymble Ladies’ College Preparatory School students showcased their musical talents on the College’s newly acquired Essex GP – 155 baby grand piano at an impromptu concert held in the Preparatory School Music Room on delivery of the piano last Tuesday.

“Preparatory School (Kindergarten to Year 2) students and staff are delighted and excited about our new baby grand piano,” said Mrs Vicki Waters, College Principal. “The piano is polished white and incorporates many design elements featured in the well-known Steinway pianos.”

“Our youngest students now have the opportunity every day to listen to beautiful music played on the baby grand. Music is an important component in a Pymble education and now our Preparatory School students have the opportunity to enjoy listening to and appreciating musical sounds of the highest quality.”

The Essex baby grand piano is the entry level brand of Steinway pianos. Despite its length of just 155 cms it has an unusually wide tale design allowing for a larger soundboard and providing a greater production of sound. Other features include a tapered soundboard, resulting in a deep and lasting tone and an all-timber action, with no plastics used in any of the action construction.

The baby grand piano was made possible by the generosity and enthusiasm of the Pymble Preparatory School parents who assisted in raising funds to purchase the piano.

Chicago is a musical vaudeville in which the story of Velma and Roxie, two good women corrupted by hard liquor and bad men, is told in a deeply sardonic portrait of American values. It is a sizzling, vibrant and energetic show featuring a stellar cast of Pymble girls and boys from Knox and Sydney Grammar. Due to the adult themes involved, parental guidance is recommended. Tickets are selling fast so click here to book yours now!

Pymble Ladies’ College students have achieved outstanding results in the 2012 Higher School Certificate (HSC) with two students achieving a perfect Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 99.95, five students topping the State in five HSC subjects, and a sixth Year 12 student topping the State through the Saturday School of Community Languages.

Pymble was the only school in NSW to achieve first place in five subjects. The first in the State in HSC subjects were achieved by Christine Tan in Agriculture, Janet Jin in English Extension 1, Hannah Chong in Japanese Extension, Matilda Howard in Latin Extension, Lilian Zhu in Textiles and Design and Shoushan Sariyan in Armenian Continuers (through Saturday School of Community Languages). Joy Jin and Matilda Howard achieved a perfect ATAR.

An additional 10 students earned a place in the best in subject lists in a wide range of subjects: Agriculture, Biology, Classical Greek Continuers, Classical Greek Extension, English Extension, Earth and Environmental Science, Latin Continuers, French Continuers, French Extension, Modern History, Senior Science and Italian Extension (through Open High School). Thirty-six students were named in the all-round Achievers lists for achieving Band 6 results (90 or better) or a Band E4 result (45 or better) in an Extension course in 10 or more units.   

Ten percent of students achieved an ATAR of 99+, 33 percent of students achieved an ATAR of 95+ and 52 percent of students achieved an ATAR of 90+.

On The Sydney Morning Herald Honour Roll, which acknowledges students who earn 90 or above in one or more subjects, 173 Pymble students earned 586 places.

Pymble students’ success in the HSC was also recognised in Visual Arts with four students selected for ARTEXPRESS 2012 out of the eight students nominated for the exhibition. In dance, five students were nominated and one selected for Callback 2012. Five music students were nominated and one was selected for ENCORE 2012. Three drama students were nominated for inclusion in ONSTAGE 2012 and two students were selected to exhibit their Major Textiles project in the 2012 Texstyle Exhibition.

“The excellent HSC results of 2012 have been achieved through the application, dedication and hard work of our students and their teachers and the support of their families. The results cap a year of excellence at the College in spectacular fashion,” said Mrs Vicki Waters, Principal of Pymble Ladies’ College.

“The Pymble Year 12 cohort of 2012 has achieved incredible results and is to be congratulated for their outstanding academic and co-curricular achievements. For many students, their academic focus and commitment has been complemented by wonderful achievements across a range of co-curricular programs in areas such as sport, the performing and visual arts, leadership and community service.”