Performing Arts
Performing Arts Captains’ Concert
Thank you to all those who supported the Performing Arts Captains’ Concert last week. Together, we raised over $350 for the charity group Minus18 who raise awareness of those who feel marginalised in the LGBTIQIA+ community and develop support programs for youth. It was wonderful to see so many parents, staff and students wearing their rainbow ribbon lapel pin with pride at the concert and many are still wearing them. This small but visible sign will show our support and acceptance for those in our school who identify as LGBTQIA+. There are still a dozen pins remaining, so if you or your child would still like one, please come and see me early next term.
Live At Lunchtime
We have held two ‘Live At Lunchtime’ concerts this term, featuring music performances from our Year 10 Music students and Year 11/12 VET Music Classes. The first was outdoors, but the second, we had to move into the Chapel and Performing Arts Centre because of bad weather. Thanks to the students involved in performing and their teachers, Mr Glen Impey and Mr Victor Brincat.
Dates for Term 2
Things always get busier in Term 2 in the Performing Arts. I invite you to note the following events in your diary and support our students in their endeavours.
College Middle School Play
Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up
13 May at 7.30pm and 14 May at 3.30pm
https://www.trybooking.com/BPUYC
VCE Theatre Studies Play
boy girl wall
26 and 27 May at 7.30pm and 28 May at 3.30pm
https://www.trybooking.com/BPUYM
VET Music Industry Night
Brunswick Ballroom **Tentative date/Venue
2 June at 7.30pm (doors open/meals available from 6.30pm)
https://www.trybooking.com/BQEYQ
College Musical
The Addams Family
Tickets on Sale - 7 June at 1.00am
https://www.trybooking.com/BQFMA
Winter Music Soiree
8 June at 7.30pm
https://www.trybooking.com/BQEZX
Emerging Performers Showcase
15 June at 3.30pm
https://www.trybooking.com/BQFXB
Year 8 Clowns
Our younger primary students were treated to a performance for the Year 8 Drama classes last week. Throughout the term, the students have been developing their clowning skills and put their learning into action in a performance in the Chapel and Performing Arts Centre. This was part of their major assessment in Term 1. One of the more senior clowns was even celebrating his birthday on the day and was presented with a cake. There were too many candles for this clown to blow out however!
Performing Arts Staff Profiles
Mr Victor Brincat
Victor has been teaching music both classroom and instrumental music for the past 20 years across primary and secondary schools in Melbourne. Recently graduated from a Master of Teaching, Victor now steps into the classroom full time to pass on music to the next generation. Teaching has always been a passion for him because whilst many believe that teachers inspire students, it is the students that inspire him as he believes that they see the world without creative limits and as such, sees them as artistic collaborators for his own work.
Victor has simultaneously worked as a session musician where he has performed with well-known and diverse Australian artists in both live and studio productions including the Melbourne theatre communities as musician and musical director. Victor had finished his undergraduate studies majoring in music performance, drama, and theatre studies at Monash University where his love of performing arts was encouraged. Victor then continued his study with incorporating sound and studio production at the S.A.E. institute where he discovered a passion for sound design, film scoring and contemporary electronic music. Victor can be seen behind a piano, saxophone, clarinet, flute but mostly his love of drums and percussion feature in most of his own compositions. While he is off-the-clock from Aitken, Victor has now delved into video game development and sound design for digital media. He is currently working from his home studio composing, designing and programming music and visual art as a creative outlet and form of expression.
Victor is grateful to be part of a supporting and caring learning community that is Aitken College. His first term has been an adventurous and exciting learning opportunity and feels that he belongs to a school where the greater College community has been welcoming, caring and kind, values that are considered by him to be the most important to achieve happiness.
Mr Glen Impey
Glen Impey is new to Aitken College in 2021 and is currently teaching Classroom Music and Performing Arts to students from Year 4 up to Year 12. He completed a Bachelor of Music in 2012, a Masters in Teaching in 2017, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment in 2020. He has been teaching music since 2010 but has taught classroom music since 2017 in a number of independent and government schools. He previously taught instrumental lessons on bass guitar and guitar and worked in the industry as a performing musician.
As a performing musician Glen has worked with a number of original artists and bands and has toured both nationally and internationally. He performs regularly as a bassist across Melbourne at gigs, festivals, functions, weddings, and other events. Glen is also a member of the Australian Army Band Melbourne who perform regularly at many public, government and Defence related events. He has performed regularly at events such as the ANZAC Day Parade, the ANZAC Day AFL games, Moomba, AFL Grand Final Parade and the Australia F1 Grand Prix.
While in Japan Glen met his wife Mika. They have a nearly 2-year-old daughter, Himari, and are expecting their second child later this year in July. They are most looking forward returning to Japan for a holiday so that they can spend time with Mika’s family and introduce them to their new bub.
Outside of teaching and music, Glen is a massive Star Wars nerd, runs regularly, loves history documentaries, drinks far too much tea and works on his Japanese.
Mr Michael Cooper
Director of Performing Arts