Rotary and local supporters produce a great GRIPPS concert

Around 600 parents, friends, students and Ashgrove/The Gap Rotarians enjoyed the Gap Regional Instrumental Primary Performers School (GRIPPS) 15th concert at The Gap State High School on Thursday 20 September.

The musical skills of primary school students from The Gap, Ashgrove and surrounding areas were on show.

GRIPPS has been a joint initiative of The Gap and surrounding region primary schools and the Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap since 1992.

GRIPPS presents a great opportunity for musically inclined primary school students to gain experience that will help them make decisions about future studies and careers. Many previous GRIPPS participants are now members of state, national and overseas orchestras.

The enthusiastic purchase of the delicious hamburgers and drinks at the Rotary barbeque before the concert established a solid base for Rotary support for GRIPPS next year. A special thank you to those patrons who ordered seconds. The Rotary cooks must have been doing something right.

This year, 160 students from 13 state and primary schools in The Gap/Ashgrove area refined their skills under the direction of professional music teachers during a four day camp at The Gap State High School.

Music and instrumental music teachers from many of the schools joined with 15 professional musicians to work with the students over the four days to develop their musical skills and extend friendships. The students participated in master classes and received tutorials on band and ensemble performances while massed choir exercises introduced them to new cadences and harmonies.

The cost of staging "GRIPPS" in 2007 is in excess of $26,000 so the Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap cannot do it alone.

GRIPPS also received generous sponsorship from many businesses throughout The Gap and surrounding suburbs including:
Advocate Strata Management (Communicating is what we do best
Bakers Delight (Open 7 Days)
Coles (The Gap Shopping Village)
CUIS Precision (London Trained Hair Studio)
Excellent Suggestions (Computers)
Geraldine Knapp (Councillor for the Ward of The Gap)
Harcourts (Real Estate)
MacDonalds (The Gap)
Matilda (Service Station)
Mitre 10 (Thanks to New Management)
NewsXpress (The Gap Village)
Panorama (Print, Design, Labels)
Spencer’s (Meat and Chicken)
Simmers Violin Shop (Bowen Hills)
Simply for Strings (Wavell Heights)
The Gap Physiotherapy Centre (Physiotherapists)
Wyatt’s BP The Gap (Total Motoring Services)
Young Minds (Individual or Group Counselling)