ENSEMBLES 2017

Caulfield Grammar School Chamber Strings

Chamber Strings is an auditioned ensemble which is comprised of secondary school aged students drawn from the two senior campuses of Caulfield Grammar School. They rehearse weekly under the direction of Mr. Jason Leinkauf, Head of Strings.

Over the years, the group has had the privilege of working with many visiting artists as part of our ‘Artist In Residence’ program. Most notably the Koehne String Quartet, Mr. Malcom Yuen (international conductor) and Sarah Hopkins (composer). These opportunities assist in the growth and development of the group but also inspire students to achieve their very best by working with artists of such a high calibre.

The Chamber Strings regularly perform at venues such as the Melbourne Concert Hall, the Melbourne Recital Centre and St. Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne. They are also regular performers at many of the schools’ music events including Campus Concerts, Founder’s Day and the biennial Whole School Concert.

Most recently, the Chamber Strings performed the Bach Double Violin Concerto, Mozart Divertimento K.138 and the St. Paul’s Suite by Holst to a full house at our Whole School Strings Concert in 2016 where more than 300 string students from pre-prep to Year 12 participated in this spectacular event.

Jason Leinkauf

Conductor

Jason Leinkauf started music training at a very young age beginning with piano tuition with the late Nehama Patkin who was a prominent Suzuki Piano teacher. At age nine, he commenced violin lessons and at age twelve he was accepted at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Melbourne, Australia to commence further Violin studies under the tutelage of Spiros Rantos, Gerard van de Weide and Mark Moghilevski. Jason achieved his A.mus.a and L.mus.a whilst learning with these inspirational teachers.
 
After graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Jason commenced his tertiary studies and went on to gain a Bachelor of Music Performance from Monash University and a Graduate Diploma of Education from The University of Melbourne.

Throughout his career as a music educator, Jason has held positions at various private schools in Melbourne and in 2007 commenced employment at Caulfield Grammar School. In 2011, he was appointed the School Head of Strings at Caulfield Grammar School. Jason is responsible for overseeing the String programme across Caulfield Grammar School’s three metropolitan campuses. Under Jason’s leadership, the string programme has reached a high level of teaching and performing and now caters for in excess of 340 string students and 14 ensembles.   

Jason is a passionate and enthusiastic teacher and conductor. He, along with the string staff of Caulfield Grammar utilises the Suzuki Method and Philosophy to inspire young students to achieve their very best, and to become lifelong learners and musicians.

He currently conducts many string ensembles at his school which range from the primary aged Junior String Orchestra to the most senior and advanced group, Chamber Strings.

David Summerton

Conductor

David commenced his musical career as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force Central Band and whilst serving with the band undertook a Bachelor of Education (Music) at the University of Melbourne, completing his degree in 1984.

During the 1980’s David performed as a freelance musician (playing bassoon) and performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Victorian State Opera, the Australian Pops Orchestra and other professional orchestras engaged for stage shows.

David joined the Music Staff at Ruyton Girls’ School in 1985 and in 1991 was appointed Director of Music. Under his direction the Music Department at Ruyton flourished and Ruyton ensembles received superior ratings at competitions and eisteddfods including the Waverley Eisteddfod, Boroondara Eisteddfod, Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod and the prestigious South Street Competition.

David studied conducting at Monash University with Mr. Robert Rosen and later with Mr. Tom Dvorak, Director of Bands at The University of Milwaukee & Wisconsin. David has conducted a range of school and community ensembles including choirs, orchestras and bands, including ensembles associated with Melbourne Youth Music Summer Schools and State Music Camp Victoria.  

At the end of 2008 David completed a Master of Music Degree at the University of Melbourne, receiving first class honors in all subjects. During the master’s program David studied orchestral conducting with Mr. John Hopkins, choral conducting with Mr. Richard Gill and band conducting with Doctor Rob McWilliams.

In 2009, David was appointed to the position of Campus Head of Music at the Caulfield Campus, Caulfield Grammar School. In 2012 he transferred to the Wheelers Hill Campus of Caulfield Grammar School where he currently serves as Campus Head of Music. At the Wheelers Hill Campus, David currently conducts the Symphony Orchestra, Kreisler Strings and Chamber Music ensembles.

SCL Artistic Program

Competition Program

Additional Concerts Program