Grandpa George

 
 
We've been adopted as Grandparents by an Irish family who have recently arrived in Perth. The oldest child is one of my little Suuzki students. Today we went to lunch at their hoem - about 10 minutes north of us - to meet them. They are Rosie, Hazel and Morgan. Sweet!

Golf today

  A lovely rainbow ...
 
The Wattle bush in flower - in mid-winter!

Crazy for Gershwin

We went to see the WAAPA students' production of the Gershwin classic last weekend. It was brilliantly done. It was lovely too to see it staged in the Regal Theatre in Subiaco - an old theatre full of atmosphere and history - a bit like going to the old Palace or Savoy theatres/cinemas.

 

Concert Programme

 
 
 

Annual Suzuki Graduation Concert for Strings

On Saturday we went to the WA Annual Suzuki Graduation Concert for Strings. This was the 25th year of graduation. In the Suzuki method there are no exams as such. Instead, as each child progresses through the Suzuki repertoire, from Book 1 to Book 10, he/she reaches graded Graduation pieces. each child performs the pieces for a panel of teachers who write a report and accept the level of performance as being suitable to pass. The children then perform together at the special graduation concert. A certificate of attainment, designed and written by Suzuki himself, is presented by the teacher to the child. It is a very big event for each child and his/her family and was done beautifully by the WA Suzuki association today.
The older violin students performed the Mozart Haffner Rondo (Level 10), the Veracini Sonata 2nd mvt (Level 8) and the Bach A minor Concerto 1st mvt (Level 7).

 
 

... the senior 'cellists ...

 
 
 

... some viola players ...
 
 

some tiny 'cellists ...
 
 

Mr Nakamura addresses the children at the end of the concert.
 

There were about 150 children on-stage at the end to perform Twinkle.

 

Special people

 
Mr Yasuki Nakamura (Pan Pacific Representative on the International Suzuki Association, Director of Australia Suzuki Association, teacher-trainer at WA since 1981, special guest for the concert), Moi (President of Suzuki Association of WA), Mrs Stephanie Coleman (the first Suzuki violin teacher in WA), Mrs Jasmine Trebse (teacher-trainer and senior teacher in WA) and Mrs Amanda Dryborough (long-time Suzuki teacher in WA).
 

UWA

The concert was in the Univ of WA Octagon Theatre so we took the camera for a stroll through the lovely grounds and struck a few poses.

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Presidential Duties

As President of STEAA(WA) I presented a certificate of appreciation on their behalf to Snadens - the Piano wharehouse - who are celebrating 90 years in business this year. Snadens afford STEAA(WA) our office on their premises.

 
 

Hugh and Mags BBQ

It was party time on Coode Street today chez Mags and Hugh - I lost count of the people who came to their house this arvo!