Mitchell Young Pirates?

Captain Stevenson, Angie LeChuck and Daft Petey

Another great musical devised by Mitchell Young Voices director, Michelle Griffin was enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience last weekend at All Saints Cathedral. As I entered the hall, I was greeted by three exotic characters, who also looked strangely familiar. There was something about Captain Stevenson, Angie Lechuck and Daft Petey that made me think I'd met them before.

As it turned out, I had never previously met the good captain, but when he's not a pirate who doesn't do anything he is Geoff Griffin, the father of musician, teacher, composer and conductor Michelle Griffin.

Angie is Mitchell Conservatorium's Cindy Fox and Daft Petey is talented actor, radio announcer and musician Ryan Fitch.

These three narrated the story, creating a suitable introduction and conclusion to the program.

Kathy Powell is not just the mother of talented Mitchell Conservatorium students Courtney, Timothy and Luke Powell, but is also a great singer and the perfect person to play the part of the evil Miss Elizabeth Black, who makes the orphaned children drink a nasty concoction of Brimstone and Treacle ... or tries to.

Mad Cap'n George

Michelle Griffin makes a grand entrance as the Mad Cap'n George singing Gilbert and Sullivan's Oh, Better Far To Live and Die and gave an excellent impression of a pirate who is one wave short of a shipwreck.
She cleverly kept in character through the whole proceedings: even when handing out prizes for the best-dressed pirate.

I enjoyed hearing the pirate orphans singing Paul Jarman's songs Find The Way Home and Far Away Our Home. You may remember Paul as the composer of the moving song, Pemulwuy

Does this map really lead to buried treasure?

Mitchell Young Voices provides a great way for young people to enjoy music through participating in singing, dancing and acting. If you'd like to be part of their next production, please ring Mitchell Conservatorium during office hours on 6331 6622 to find out about rehearsal times.

The power of music

This video shows the amazing power of music for older folk. One reason that it makes people come alive is the way it brings back memories of happy times enjoying music from our past.

It makes sense to get those happy experiences happening now, so that you do have something to recall later.

Some of the most enjoyable things we can do musically are to sing and play music with others. Do you have memories of singing with friends, playing in a musical group or even listening to music together?

Are you doing any of this currently? Mitchell Conservatorium provides many opportunities for music-making in Bathurst and Forbes, including Mitchell Young Voices, various chamber music ensembles and we also have The Allegri Singers and Bathurst City and RSL Band which meet at the Con each week.

Please ring Mitchell Conservatorium during office hours on 6331 6622 for more information.

Love, Chemistry and Cryogenics

Another entertaining show devised by Mitchell Conservatorium's Michelle Griffin, showcasing her talents and those of Mitchell Young Voices is being thawed as we type this and will be ready for your consumption on Friday 23rd March, 2012 at 6 PM and Saturday, 24th March, 2012 at 7 PM at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre.

The program also features Cameron Moor as Michelle's lab assistant and a band which comprises of Aaron Hopper (guitar), Andrew Smith (percussion) and Cindy Fox (piano).

To find out more about Michelle and this new show, you might enjoy reading Maryanne Jaques' interview in the Western Advocate's online feature site.

Watch a master teacher at work

Mitchell Young Voices at our Open Day, 2008

In this short video, Bobby McFerrin makes teaching an audience to sing a five note scale look so easy. But I think that it looks easy because he does it so effectively, not because anyone can do it.

What do you think?

Singing teachers around the world use this Pentatonic scale to teach beginners to sing because leaving out two notes from the more frequently used major scale make it much easier to sing and to improvise on. And the scale is used in a lot of well-known music. You might find yourself using it on New Year's Eve, if you get in a huddle to belt out Auld Lang Syne.

Thanks to Michelle Griffin for pointing out this great little video. Michelle conducts Mitchell Young Voices, and teaches piano and singing at Mitchell Conservatorium in Bathurst.

Concert featuring some of the most beloved Christmas music