“If you enjoy it, you’re more willing to put in the time.”— Henry Giese, Year 11
From a compulsory music lesson in Year 4, Henry Geise has gone on to complete Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) Grade 8 in both clarinet and bass guitar.
When Henry Geise first picked up the clarinet in Year 4, playing an instrument was compulsory at his primary school; he simply gave it a go.
What followed has been shaped less by a single decision and more by years of steady commitment.
He started on clarinet and bass guitar at the same time, and those two instruments have remained his favourites despite trying piano and picking up acoustic guitar more recently.
“I would have been about eight,” he says.
Now in Year 11, Henry is a central part of the music program; he’s part of the Big Band, Concert Band, RnB Band and Guitar Ensemble, where he is the ensemble leader.
What he has in fact achieved is a level of proficiency that is easy to overlook unless you understand what it takes.
Henry has completed AMEB Grade 8 in both clarinet and bass guitar. It is a significant benchmark, usually reached after many years of consistent practice. To achieve that level on one instrument before graduating high school is impressive, but to do it on two, while balancing everything else, is very rare.
That time extends beyond the School. Henry has been selected in both the State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) and the Australian Honours Ensemble Program (AHEP), highly competitive programs that require a formal audition process.
“It’s good fun as you’re all there for the same reason,” he adds.
Henry feels the same way about the GPS Music Showcase and the Toowoomba Eisteddfod, explaining that it becomes more of a reunion than a competition.
Alongside his musical commitments, Henry represents the School in swimming, cross country and track and field; earning selection in GPS teams means a full schedule.
“I try to stay organised,” he says. “Sport in the afternoon, music in the morning or on weekends. It’s just about fitting it in.”
Music, though, remains a constant. Sometimes structured and demanding, sometimes something quieter.
“Sometimes I’ll just pick up the guitar and play,” he says. “That’s when it’s relaxing.”
He is also formalising his skills by studying at a tertiary level for a Diploma of Music while still at the School, which opens the door to teaching and sharing what he has learned.
It is a quiet, consistent approach. One that reflects both his humility and his exceptional musical ability. His advice to anyone thinking about taking up music is simple: “There’s just so many other opportunities that you can unlock from it.”
Henry is a gifted young musician, a dedicated sportsman and a capable, high-achieving student, a fine example of what it means to be a Toowoomba Grammar School boy, setting a standard that speaks for itself.
Latest Blog
Life After School
As children grow and develop, they participate in a range of new experiences, with the “journey” from birth to adulthood being shaped by several awaited and expected transitions. These transitions occur across a range of context and help us to evolve in new environments. It is important to note that transition is associated with a change, which is something that happens for all of us. The concept of transition involves how we process, manage, and respond to the change. As adults, we work hard…
TGS Artist in Residence - Ben Tupas
I’ve been following Toowoomba Grammar School’s exciting Artist-in-residence program for several years. After seeing fellow Toowoomba artists such as Catherine Parker, Alice Weinthal and Vincent Parisi taking up the opportunity and engaging in the program, I decided to apply in 2022 to continue the momentum of my own artist practice. With the four-week residency wrapping up at the end of October, and some time to reflect on the experience I can write that the experience was a valuable…
The Transition to Secondary School
Research shows us that the move from a primary school to a secondary school is one of the most significant life changes that our young men will face. You can help make the transition to Senior School smoother by ensuring that the boys attend the orientation days, practice packing their bags and getting their sports, music, and activities equipment ready. When asked about tips for the boys coming into Year 7, current Year 7 dayboy, Ollie Wells suggests boys should “Be organised. Pack the night…
Nothing is Impossible
Toowoomba Grammar School's Year 7C English has been studying 'Cool Runnings' to learn about how stories or movies based on real life aren't always completely true. Extremely fascinated by the topic, young student Harry Ryan took it upon himself to message (via LinkedIn) the bobsled driver, Mr Dudley Stokes - he responded! After a little communication between the two, Harry asked Mr Stokes if he could FaceTime him during an English lesson, to 'meet' his teacher Mr Paul Irwin and classmates…
Simple Acts of Kindness
Giving back to the community is an important value that Toowoomba Grammar School endeavours to instill in our boys. Year 12 student, Tumoana Strugnell is a shining example of how it costs nothing but our time to help others, especially as we move into the Festive season and the challenges of life seem heightened. I first became involved in community service when I was in Year 6, through my local primary school’s involvement on ANZAC Day and my parent’s involvement in local community events. I’m…
A Holistic Approach to our Boarders' Activities Program
A true education is about much more than just lessons in a classroom. It’s about providing experiences that challenge a child, physically and mentally. It’s about providing opportunities that build independence, resilience and that help develop their good character. Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to offer a broad and liberal education that stretches way beyond the walls of a classroom and equips our boys with the skills to flourish as an individual. We offer a diverse and engaging…
A Beginner's Guide to Manga
If your son has brought home a book with big eyed characters, and he seems to be reading backwards, chances are, he's discovered Manga. The Dent library has a Manga collection that would be the envy of many schools, with over 100 unique titles. It Is easily the most visited section in the library, over half of the top 100 titles borrowed this year are Manga! But what is Manga? Manga is an umbrella term for a variety of print comics and graphic novels originating from Japan. Unlike western…
A Safe, Welcoming and Joyous Community
Tell us about yourself My background, at least that associated with boarding and teaching, is long and varied with a number of different aspects leading to this chosen career path. For the most part, I was schooled in Canberra but had extended periods in Lesotho, Norfolk Island, and Samoa as a result of my father’s work in foreign aid. My schooling was quite disruptive, and I wasn’t a model student! I was always passionate about English; often distracting myself (amongst other things) immersed…
Facilitating Respect
Recently the 2022 TGS Prefect group spoke at the Headmaster’s Assembly about respecting individuality. But what does this mean? The foundations for a successful relationship with peers, family, co-workers, and others is framed and supported by a two-way street of respect. However, for this two-way street to be functional it is important to know that respect cannot be demanded, it can only be earned. Toowoomba Grammar School is no different and respect is nurtured in various forms such as in the…
