Stanmore Ready to Rockfest Harry Dundon on trumpet, Hamish Spedding on bass and Charlie Bass-Tracy playing saxophoneZachary Nguyen on guitar Newington is getting ready to rock this June with the return of Rockfest, the College’s annual rock music event featuring bands developed as part of the Rockband program. This year’s theme, Women Who Changed “It gives them the opportunity to admire the Face of Music, celebrates the role of and respect these brilliant musicians women in music andbeyond. It’s a theme that, until now, they didn’t know existed.” Mr Chris Paton, Headof Contemporary The impact has also been seen beyond Music, has long wantedto explore as the practice room. part of the program. “The world has experienced the most “I have never seen the boys so powerful 12-month period in terms of enthusiastic and passionate about a awareness of equality for women,” he said.Rockfest theme,” said Mr Paton. “I have “Rockfest 2018 is theperfect opportunity also witnessed and received parent to tap into an issue I am passionate feedback about the opportunities for about and which I want the boys to learn conversation this theme has created.” about and be passionate about too.” The Rockband program offers boys the chance to develop their music Zach Zoud on bass and Joshua Watson ‘Rockband was the first performance skills as part of a band on guitar band I joined. It helped and audition to perform at Rockfest. It’s an opportunity that some performers me find a passion for For Year 10 student Miles Agius, the describe as a real highlightof their time program was the start of a new passion at the College so far. music that I never for music. “The feeling you get when you perform would’ve thought I had.’ “Prior to Newington I was never on stage is the best feeling in the interested in music,” he said. “I was a world,” said Year 10 student Aaron The theme has given this year’s bands typical young sporty kid. Rockband was Mueller, reflecting on his experience the chance to discover iconic and the first band I joined and it opened up performing in last year’s Rockfest. timeless music written and performed the whole Music department for me. Bands are required to audition for by talented, strong, powerful women. Rockfest. Those that don’t make it into “The boys in the Rockband program are Band members have embraced the like brothers. We all are working towardsthe main show perform at the pre-show theme and the challenges it presented. the big night that is Rockfest and after BBQ from 4.30pm in front of family, “The theme forces people to explore all the stress is done and we’ve put in friends and other members of the amazing music created by women that the hours of work, we all come together Rockband program. they never would have heard of before,” almost as one band to pat each other Rockfest 2018 kicks off at 6.00pm on said Year 11 student Charlie Timpson. on the back. ” 23 June. OPPORTUNITY| NEWS AUTUMN 2018 | 13