“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
Developing Healthy Relationships
Healthy relationships are extremely important for the development of mental health in our youth. When you spend time with people you care about, who care about you, this can help you feel connected and supported. This term is one of the largest in regard to boys participating in activities and sports ranging from field, to court, to thought. This is in addition to music and drama programs. At Toowoomba Grammar School, we believe this allows for plenty of opportunity to develop the ability to…
Striving for the Best
Director of Volleyball, Mr Eric Smith has spent the past 20 years at Toowoomba Grammar School not only shaping the minds of the young men in his science classroom but also working tirelessly on improving his capacity to coach volleyball to the highest level. Starting at the School in 2003, Eric quickly rediscovered his passion for volleyball, something he had not experienced since playing for Ipswich Grammar School during the ‘90s. “I felt completely at home back on the volleyball court and…
When it comes to Music, Variety is the Spice of Life
In the Queensland Curriculum, the content of the music syllabus includes the study of the people, places and cultures involved in musical creation and performance. As our country becomes increasingly diverse, it is important for students in every school setting to study a wide variety of musical styles, cultures and genres. The Toowoomba Grammar School Music program of 2022 embraces this holistic approach to the study of music, encouraging teachers and students to explore a variety of musical…
Successful Decision Making - Subject Selections
Term 3 tends to be an important time for students making decisions, and for some, possibly the first time they have really had the opportunity to make a decision that could impact the course of their future. Year 8 students are taking control of their academic program for the first time, being able to select their electives for Year 9. For most, these decisions are mainly about getting the opportunity to pursue subjects which interest them and the joy of not taking some subjects which really do…
TGS Rugby Ambassadors' Program
“As a Grammar boy, you have the Blue and Gold in your blood for life. You’ve got connections and networks because of this special bond. It’s hard to describe what it is exactly; I think it stems from the history and traditions that are passed down to each generation but it’s something you carry your entire life, you’re part of this team.” – TGS Old Boy (1960-63) John Campbell, Senior Prefect 1963, Captain 1st XV Rugby 1963. John was excited to learn in a recent edition of The Blue and Gold…
TGS Leading the Way for IT in Education
Toowoomba Grammar School is fortunate to have a strong partnership with Microsoft / School Locker. We are a Microsoft Lighthouse School, leading the way in technological advancement and deployment in Australian schools. This recognition would not be possible without two key factors: our “whole school” approach to IT, whereby the School supplies every student with the same devices, ensuring equality for all boys from Prep to Year 12.our dedicated IT team, who are based on-site to immediately…
Holiday Reading
Reading is one of those activities that, the more you do, the better you get, and with the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to read that book you’ve always wanted to, finish a book you’ve started or try something new. It is important to keep reading over the holidays, so that we don’t step backward in our reading journey. As the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found, reading for pleasure is a habit that can prove essential to performing well…
Developing Generational Change in our Men – Stand Up and Speak Out
The devastating effects of domestic and family violence (DFV) are more prominent today as this previously ‘taboo’ issue is finally being publicly recognised and addressed. Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to be leading the way in creating generational change for this sensitive issue through a variety of School initiatives and by supporting community groups associated with DFV. Our programs are aimed at developing good men of the future who will “Stand Up and Speak Out.” TGS became a White…
The Barbour Connection
They will tell tales of meeting someone on the other side of the world whom they spotted wearing a TGS cap. It led to an instant connection. Of getting their dream job by simply proudly sporting a TGS Old Boy tie at the interview. It led to an instant connection. There is no denying that Toowoomba Grammar School students share a special bond. We celebrate it with our annual Old Boys’ Sons and Grandsons photo and our Old Boys’ Generations Gathering dinner. You see it in the playground at…
