Director of Music | Mr Derek Rose

A musical moment in history

What moment in time can you pinpoint that has had a significant impact on your life? It will be vastly different for each of us, not only the experience but how personally it affects and impacts us. The times we live in have undoubtedly changed how we approach and undertake many tasks within our daily lives.

While elements of life do change over time, fundamentally, many core elements of simple things in life do not. This could not be truer than in this short story about Jack Tueller, a soldier who fought in WWII.

World War II was considered to be the bloodiest conflict in recorded history. Yet, when surrounded by more death than is realistically imaginable, one soldier was able to use music as a way to communicate what no words could.

On a muddy evening two weeks after D-Day, Jack Leroy Tueller and his crew were waiting anxiously for the last German sniper that was watching them to be eliminated. Feeling stressed, Tueller pulled out his trumpet to calm down, despite the wishes of his Commander.

Believing that the sniper was likely feeling just as scared and alone as they were, he decided to play out a famous German love song to try and ease the mutual tension. Sure enough, a military police truck drove up to their camp the following morning containing some recently captured prisoners, one of which was the last sniper. After inquiring about who the trumpet player was, he explained that the song made him think about his family back home in Germany, and he could not bring himself to fire after hearing it and gave himself up instead.

Music, it seems, can heal and inspire more than one type of mind wound. It strengthens the mind, inspires memories, and comforts the distressed.

What a pertinent reminder for each of us as we pause to reflect as a College community during National Reconciliation Week.

Norman Clarke Concert           

The Norman Clarke Concert scheduled for this Sunday at Villa Nova College has been postponed due to unfinished building works at their theatre. These works were scheduled to be completed in time for our concert.

We are pleased to inform the College community that the Norman Clarke Concert will now be held on Sunday 18 July. We kindly ask all families to mark this change in their diaries.

Assembly Performance

Congratulations to the Terrace Vocal Ensemble conducted by Mr Jacob Bradford. The Ensemble performed Go the Distance from Disney’s Hercules at this week’s assembly. All boys should be very proud of their efforts to stage a great performance.

Pep Band

Good luck to the large number of students performing as part of our Pep Band this Saturday at Tennyson. Please come along and support our musicians as they perform in support of our 1st XI Football team.

Term 2 

  • Pep Band Performance: Saturday 5 June, 12.15pm Arrival
  • Norm Clarke Concert: Postponed to Sunday 18 July