Welcome to a Night of Broadway!

Introduction 

Music is a gateway to another world; a place where everyone can combine regardless of culture, language, or personality. Nearing the end of term 2, Hornby High School put on a performing arts evening that I am grateful to have been a part of. A diverse range of instruments, acts, and talents were showcased on the night based on the glamorous them of musical theatre. Below is my recap of the process leading towards the night, and how the night went as a performer. 

Process

At the start of term 2, I was tasked with finding two piano pieces that would suit the musical theatre theme. I instantly knew that I wanted to perform a classical piece - my favourite genre - and attempt something from the blues/jazz side of music. After a series of researching and listening to various songs, I had two pieces that I was eager to perform for the upcoming arts evening. The first piece was Clair De Lune by a French composer, Claude Debussy. This piece translates in English to 'Moonlight' and beautifully captures the wonder of nature and the subtle yet dazzling light from the moon. For my second piece, I was drawn to Take Five by Dave Brubeck, a popular jazz piece that contains a fun piano solo. 

Weeks 2 through to 8, were full of consistent practise learning the two pieces. With the help of my piano teacher, we worked through the harder parts of the two songs - the middle sections - and slowly but surely improved on the techniques that I used. One thing I realised throughout the whole practise process was that the cliché "practise makes perfect" is a reality, and applies greatly to the world of music. There were admittedly a few parts in the two pieces that posed great challenges. However, great outcomes are built with great persistence. There were moments where changing to a less difficult song would be an easier solution, but I wanted to perform my best and stuck to my decision. 

Nearing the performance, I felt that something was lacking in my pieces' 'musical theatre' aspect. I wanted to bring a visual aspect to the pieces. I then set a few days to create a video that showcased the films Clair De Lune had featured in. I then composed another video for Take Five. Seeing as take five was composed in the 1960s and was in the genre of jazz, I was immediately drawn to a certain video theme - Noir! I was pleased with the outcome of the two videos and was excited to use them as an accompaniment to my performances. 

Feel free to click on the images above to have a look at the two videos I created! (Just watching the first minute or so would give an idea as to what the rest of the video is like)

Week 9 was the week of the performance! This week was full of practising inside of the auditorium to get a feel for the actual performance evening. As a year 13 music class, we went through practise runs of our pieces and received last-minute feedback and alterations from our amazing director, Mrs Beer. On the day of the performance, we went through a big rehearsal run to prepare us for the night. Performers from various year levels showcasing different talents all came together for the day, all full of excitement with a slight twist of butterflies in the stomach. I was pleased with how the rehearsal went, and it was such a great chance to meet other people who were to perform later that night. 

The night of the performance

I paced back and forth behind the curtains, catching slight glimpses of the audience out ahead. And then, it was time. "Cameron Arthur will be performing a piece called Clair de Lune". At that moment, the adrenaline and rehearsals all rushed in my head to prepare me for this performance of a lifetime. I took a few steps out of the darkness and into the light, ready to perform to the audience set out in front. I took my seat, took a deep breath, and then looked up at the video ahead. Once the video started, I let the music flow out of my fingers. Before I knew it, I had performed the piece and was met with joyous applause at the end. As a musician, one of the best feelings when performing is finishing a piece and knowing that it was your best effort, regardless of the bumps that may have occurred along the way. A smile was planted on my face as I walked back behind the mystery of the stage curtains. 

Backstage, we were able to hear the performances of our peers and cheer them on as talent was displayed. We also had the astounding Mr Solomon be our stage director for the night, who helped us getting prepared and directed us when we needed to head to the stage. Quite honestly, the whole evening - both on and behind the stage - felt as if broadway was brought to Hornby High School! After my first performance, I prepared myself for the next piece that I was going to play for the audience. After having conversations with various performers backstage, it was then time for me to perform Take Five. I once again headed to the waiting area by the side of the stage, ready to perform my final piece for the audience. My name was called and I let the music flow out of me for the final song. After the piece, I thought to myself "This is it. This is what being a musician is; to perform not for the applause or for the sake of NCEA credits, but to express my passion to the world". 

Performance Remark

The whole process of participating in a large performance evening such as the one Hornby High hosted has taught me a lot. Performing to an audience is irrefutably scary, but there is also joy amongst the nerves. Sometimes pushing out of our comfort zones is what helps us develop and improve, both as musicians and as people. No performance goes 100% as planned. However, giving our best is what matters at the end of the day. Art is something to be shared with others. The performing arts are no different. I genuinely enjoyed the performance evening and will keep this as one of my treasured memories of Hornby High School. And most importantly, a team is behind every successful outcome. It is easy to attribute the outcome of the night to the performers, but those involved that are not under the limelight are just as important. On that note, a huge thank you to the three teachers who helped us leading up to and throughout the evening - Mrs Beer, Mrs Clark, and Mr Solomon. The performance would not have been the same without your support and encouragement. 

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." - Plato