Year 7 2024

All students are required to bring a fully charged laptop to school every day. Families are responsible for purchasing, configuring and maintaining the laptop.

Any laptop purchased must meet the hardware requirements listed below. If you have any questions about purchasing a laptop please contact the school.

• Must have a keyboard
• Must not be a Chromebook
• Cannot be a tablet
• WIFI must support Dual Band as the school wifi is all based on 5ghz
• Processor - minimum i5 for Windows devices
• RAM - minimum 8 GB
• Storage 128GB
• Make sure the device uses SSD rather than HDD.

Laptops can either be Windows or macOS based.

Windows - version 10 or better is required to be installed.

macOS - mac OS 11 or macOS 12 are the preferred versions.

Please note that Hornsby Girls' is predominantly a Windows environment. All on premises computers are Windows based and all staff expertise is Windows based. Students that choose an Apple device need to be able to maintain and operate it without assistance from the school.

The ensembles for 2024 will be: Year 7 Singers, Junior Voices, Senior Choir, Hornsby Chorale, Beginner Band, Minerva Orchestra, String Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, Concert Band and Symphonic Band. In addition there are a number of chamber ensembles available for the most advanced students: String Quartet, Flute Quartet, Saxophone Quartet, Chamber Brass, and Clarinet Quartet.

Students may join as many ensembles as they can fit into their schedule.

Beginner Band – Mondays 7.15 am-8.30 am

A training band for all beginner players of woodwind, string, brass and percussion. Students in this ensemble are strongly encouraged to learn oboe, bassoon, french horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, viola or double bass as these are the instruments with the most opportunities in the ensembles.

Hornsby Chorale – Mondays 3 pm-4.15 pm

A chamber choir for the most accomplished singers in the school (Years 8-12 only). All positions are auditioned

Jazz Band – Tuesdays 7.15 am-8.30 am

A jazz ensemble open to students in either Concert Band or Symphonic Band by audition/invitation only.

Junior Voices – Tuesdays 7.15 am-8.30 am

An open choir for all abilities (Years 8-9). All CCMP members in Years 8-9 are encouraged to join this ensemble.

Year 7 Singers – Tuesdays 3 pm-4:15 pm

A Year 7 choir for all abilities. All CCMP members in Year 7 are encouraged to join this ensemble.

String Orchestra – Wednesdays 7.15 am-8.30 am

An auditioned ensemble for experienced string players.

Minerva Orchestra – Thursdays 7.15 am-8.30 am

An ensemble for intermediate level wind, string and percussion players. Auditions are required to place students appropriately within this ensemble.

Symphonic Band – Thursdays 7.15 am-8.30 am

An auditioned band for advanced woodwind, brass & percussion players.

Percussion Ensemble - Thursdays 3 pm-4.15 pm

An ensemble for students to play tuned and untuned percussion. Auditions may be required depending on numbers.

Senior Choir – Fridays 7.15 am-8.30 am

An open choir for all abilities (years 10-12). All CCMP members in Years 10-12 are encouraged to join this ensemble.

Concert Band – Fridays 7.15 am-8.30 am

An auditioned band for intermediate to advanced woodwind, brass & percussion players.

Any student who wishes to be a member of an ensemble in 2024 is asked to fill in the HGHS CO-Curricular Music Program Registration Form.

Minerva Orchestra, String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Concert Band and Symphonic Band all require an audition for entry. If you are interested in auditioning for one of these ensembles you will need to make a video recording of yourself playing.

Students auditioning for Minerva Orchestra need to prepare a 1 minute excerpt of any piece of music that demonstrates your ability as a player. Students auditioning for String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Concert Band and Symphonic Band will need to prepare an excerpt from an ensemble piece which is provided on the Google Classroom.

A Google Classroom has been set up for you to join which contains the excerpts to prepare and is also where you should post your video if making one. You can access the Google Classroom through the Department of Education student portal. You will need to join using the link or the class code: bgfuy2d.

If you are not currently enrolled at a Department of Education school or do not know how to access your Student Portal, please email nadia.mccarthy1@det.nsw.edu.au for assistance.

The Co-Curricular Music Program is self-funding. The 2024 costs for annual membership in the Co-Curricular Music Program is $500 per year for the first instrumental ensemble, $300 for choirs, $100 for any additional ensemble/s and participation in a choir is free if you are part of an instrumental ensemble. Fees cover the cost of conductors, music, equipment and entry into competitions and festivals.

HGHS usually has a large number of flute, clarinet, saxophone and violin players and are short of brass players. Players are needed to learn the following instruments: bassoon, french horn, tuba, euphonium, double bass, euphonium, cello, trombone, bass clarinet, oboe, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone and viola. Please indicate on your expression of interest form (see Google Form link above) if you are interested in playing any of these much needed instruments.

All of these instruments, except viola, can be hired from the school. The hire fee is $250 plus a $300 refundable deposit. Some of our most in need instruments can be hired free of charge (excluding the refundable deposit) for the first year. An instrument usage fee of $45 will be charged to all keyboard, electric bass and percussion players for the maintenance of the instruments used at school.

All members of instrumental ensembles are expected to have private lessons on their instruments until they have reached a minimum of AMEB 6th Grade or equivalent.

Due to a lack of space at the school, most lessons must be arranged by the individual outside of school. A link to a list of tutors can be found in the Co-Curricular Music Handbook.

CCMP uniform is school (navy blue) pants with school initials and white winter shirt with school initials (senior shirt).

Co-Curricular Music Activities include:

• Eisteddfods & festivals
• International Tours
• Regional Tours
• Workshops with professional ensembles and tutors
• Community Concerts
• Two major school concerts per year
• School Functions e.g. Speech Day, Prefect Induction, Orientation Day, Year 12 Graduation.