GEC College News

Performing Arts News

Little Shop of Horrors

It only feels like yesterday we started planning the 2018 school production of Little Shop of Horrors. And what an amazing trip down to Skid Row we had. With visiting Mrs Mushnik, Seymour and Audrey we felt every emotion from joy, sadness and anger.

 

I would like to thank everyone who could come and watch the show during our 3 night performances in our Performing Arts Centre , and especially to those who came to watch more than once, there were many of you. We had a sold out show on Thursday night and the other two nights were very close to being the same. The students and myself appreciate your support and also to all of the staff and parents who supervised backstage during the shows.

All students and staff who were highly involved in the show received care packages that included a show poster, program and participation certificate. There were also 12 special awards given out to the cast/crew who put that little bit of extra effort into their role this year. Well done!

 

Congratulations to Ben Matthews, Jasmine Shaw, Maayan Ashkar and Warne Hewett who were our main stars of the show and were the ones who just touched the surface of what was an amazingly talented group of students this year.

 

We have received such amazing feedback on what has been a colourful journey and we can’t wait to do it all again in 2019. We will be having our auditions hopefully in activities week of term 4 and also in February of next year. Please stay tuned to what will hopefully be as successful as this year’s show.

 

Sarah Mortimer

Production Coordinator

Production Band

 Little Shop of Horrors. would not have been what it was without the amazing work from the band! Ms Baker-Goldsmith and Ms Morley began working on the music with the band in early June, and had many rehearsals (including in the holidays!) before the opening night.

 

The band had a mix of students, teachers and professionals playing up on the mezzanine above the stage for each performance. At the end of each act, Ms Morley cast her votes on the “Best in Band”, or BIB for short, which is like the Best on Ground or the Brownlow (only much more prestigious). Richard Shao was our inaugural winner, and had to wear his incredible blue bib for the second half of the last performance (sorry Richard!).

Thank you to the following GEC students who played in the band: Layla Carmeli-Wolski (flute), Daniel Mijares Mendez (tenor saxophone), Richard Shao (piano), Olivia Bauchiere (piano) and Lucas Vaidie (guitar). You all did a brilliant job, not only for giving your time to rehearse and perform, but also for putting in a tremendous amount of effort every single time you played.

 

Also a huge thank you to the following teachers and professional players who were involved: Mr Mark Dipnall, Ms Charlene Wijaya, Mr Jeff Kiat and Ms Laura Baker-Goldsmith (co-musical director). Your input and professional experience helped the show to run as smoothly as possible, and your nurturing work with the students made their experience unforgettable.

 

And lastly, thank you to the cast, crew and other students/teachers who were involved (including those behind the scenes!). The band loved working with you all – can’t wait until next year!

 

Ms Zamarah Morley

Musical Director (and GEC Strings Teacher)

Interested in learning a musical instrument?

There are a limited number of additional spaces in the College Instrumental Music program in the following instruments:

  • Brass (new!) - trumpet and trombone
  • Voice
  • Guitar
  • Woodwind - flute, clarinet and saxophone
  • Strings - violin, viola and cello

Instrumental Music lessons occur on a rotating timetable during class time. This minimises the chance of students missing the same class more than once a month. All students are expected to participate in at least one ensemble, with rehearsals occurring during lunchtime or after school. The semester levy is $200, which covers the costs of delivering the program including purchasing/maintaining instruments and equipment, photocopying and the like. There are also limited numbers of instruments available for hire from the college for $100 per semester.

 

For further information or to request a place in the Instrumental Music program, please contact Ms Laura Baker-Goldsmith (Head of Performing Arts) on 9571 7838 or lbg@gec.vic.edu.au

VSSS Mass Choir Rehearsal

Thousands of Victorian students are perfecting their dance moves, memorising their words and tuning their instruments as part of this year’s Victorian State Schools Spectacular, including the following GEC students:

 

ORCHESTRA

Mikki Clemans 10 (violin)

 

ACTOR

Sophie Rowsell 10

 

PERFORMING ARTS UNIT CHOIR

Yvette Lipovetsky 7C

Maani Baker 8C

Estelle Lipovetsky 10

 

MASS CHOIR

Anaelle Micciche 7B

Orleanna Murray de Brossard 7B

Rudi Hudson 7C

Harriet Rowsell 7C

Alexandra Wood-Freeman 7G

Alicia Scott 8C

Caleb Hopewell 8F

Layla Carmeli-Wolski 9B

Jasmine Shaw 9B

Sophie Swiatlo 9B

Alannah De Jesus 9E

Lottie Hudson 9E

Dasha Tolkach 9E

Georgia Wood-Freeman 9E

Izzy McFarland 10

Musicians, singers, dancers, skaters, puppeteers and circus artistes will amaze an audience of more than 10,000 people at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena on Saturday 15th September, with shows at 1pm and 6.30pm.

 

This year’s show, titled With the Beat, explores ideas of belonging and identity. The journey of exploration will see Hisense Arena transformer into a mystical Venetian masquerade ball and a wondrous Steam Punk Fairground.

 

There is something for everyone’s musical taste. Talented vocalists and musicians will perform more than 40 songs from artist like Macklemore, Imagine Dragons, Sheppard, Tim Minchin and Beyonce.

 

VSSS18 Ticket Sales

Tickets for the Victorian State Schools Spectacular - With The Beat went on sale from 9am on Thursday 19 July.

 

Go to www.ticketek.com.au/spectacular or call 132 849. (No code word required. Ignore the prompt on the Ticketek page.)

 

Adult                           $40 + booking fee

Concession              $30 + booking fee

Junior (U15)              $20 + booking fee

Buy 10 tickets and get one adult ticket free (for group bookings please call 1300 364 001).

Upcoming Performing Arts Dates

  • 9th August - Radio Club - GEC on the air on Southern FM 88.3 @ 8am
  • 22nd August - VSSS18 Mass Choir rehearsal (Melbourne Town Hall)
  • 23rd August - Radio Club - GEC on the air on Southern FM 88.3 @ 8am
  • 3rd September - Instrumental Music Gala Concert
  • 6th September - Radio Club - GEC on the air on Southern FM 88.3 @ 8am
  • 13th and 14th September - VSSS18 Full day rehearsals (Hisense Arena)
  • 15th September - VSSS18 performances (1pm and 6.30pm)
  • 20th September - Radio Club - GEC on the air on Southern FM 88.3 @ 8am

 

Laura Baker-Goldsmith

Head of Performing Arts