Performing Arts

THE TRUMPETS SOUND, THE ANGELS SING

Welcome to Term 2.  We have the team ready to help your son discover Music, Dance and Drama.

With close to 400 students participating in the Performing Arts program at St Pius X College, you may feel that your son is ready to benefit too. We have 32 ensembles for students catering to all styles of learning, plus over 20 different options for private tuition. The Performing Arts Department encourages all students to experience the benefits of the Music, Drama and Dance - just email pwaters@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Please see the Timetable and Enrolment Form below. 

DRAMA MATTERS

Drama provides students the opportunity to engage the mind, body and emotions and contemplate what it means to be human. Through collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, passion and hard work students work on fun and challenging activities in an inclusive environment that allows each participant to grow and extend their skills. Throughout the course each student has the opportunity to work on both group and solo activities and assessments. Collaboration through group devising is a mandatory part of the NSW Drama Syllabus and students work in small and large groups to create a range of original devised performances. Students often work on real life issues and problems, challenging preconceived ideas and opening up opportunities to question the world around them.

Students hone their critical thinking and performance skills by exploring the language, style, context and relationships in a series of international and home grown texts. Great literature consistently asks fundamental questions about our humanity, what it means to be human and our relationships with both ourselves and those around us. Texts include, Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett, William Golding, Hilary Bell, Moliere, Anton Chekhov, Bertolt Brecht, Jane Harrison, Mirra Todd and others. Students work in small groups, pairs, solo and as a whole group. All performances are watched by members of the St Pius X College community. Students write essays and critically deconstruct the performances of their peers and themselves. With scaffolding, structure and language techniques students develop their critical anaylsis of each text and write confidently on how dramatic meaning is created on stage.

Each student of Drama will discover their own voice, grow in confidence, developing empathy through authentic relationships. They will gain invaluable understandings and insights about characters and situations far beyond the realms of the classroom. Performing arts students grow to be brave, compassionate, respectful, bold, honourable and kind.

Drama Ensembles

• Senior Drama: Monday 3.30-4.30
• Junior Ensemble: Thursday 3.30-4.30

These ensembles are offered to any student who would like to work in an atmosphere of creativity and discovery. Students engage in activities ranging from improvisation, voice work, text, playbuilding, monologues, physical theatre and movement. There is a play each year that any student in the college may audition for. We alternate each year between Mercy College and St Pius College. 2019 saw the successful performance of Great Expectations by 28 students from both colleges. Students also assisted back stage, with technical production, FOH and live music.

Drama excursion: Friday 3 May @ 6.30 pm - The Seymour Centre

On Friday the Elective Drama classes of Years 9 and 10 will head to The Seymour Centre to watch Sport for Jove’s 100-minute version of The Tempest.

One of Shakespeare’s truly original and most personal plays, The Tempest is a vision of forgiveness, discovery and self-discovery – famous for its language, context, enchanting characters and breathtaking theatricality, this is a reflection of the world’s most famous playwright at the height of his powers and at the end of his remarkable career.

This tempest is not only in Prospero – the storm lies in the contradictions and ambiguities the story throws up about freedom and slavery, civilisation and barbarism, legacy and letting go, youth and age, revenge and forgiveness. The sea is a place of transformation but also represents the capriciousness of nature, chaos or fate. There are numerous opportunities throughout the year to see live theatre. This is a very important aspect of the Drama course. It is important to see live performances and soak up the atmosphere of a theatre audience.  The permission letter can be accessed below.

Ms Penny Lindley - Drama Teacher

MUSIC MATTERS

Twilight Around the World!

Twilight Around the World Thursday May 9, 6pm @ Oxford Falls - Better than Anything on Netflix!

On Thursday of next week, May 9, @ 6pm we will host our first Twilight Concert for 2019 at Oxford Falls. Just like a sporting team, we need everyone to make a full contribution.  Buses will escort boys to Oxford Falls, students will be given dinner and we have some awesome special guest appearances too. With so much talent on display, plus our multicultural menu, all Pius families are encouraged to come along and enjoy this showcase! Please read the attached parent information letter carefully. 

St Pius X College Commemorates the 104th ANZAC Day Anniversary

Our sincere thanks to the Executive staff of St Pius X College and student leadership team for organising such a thoughtful ANZAC Day Service for our Community. Through prayers, addresses, poetry, silent reflection and music we paused to show our respect to all those who made sacrifices to ensure our country’s safety and freedoms. Particular thanks goes to Lachlan Donlevy for his leadership of the College in singing the “Australian National Anthem”, Oliver Osborne for his evocative delivery of the “Last Post” and “Reverie” and Sam Schyverns for his beautiful oration of the poem, “Small Pain in My Chest” by Michael Mack. Our College is eternally grateful for the opportunities afforded to us through the sacrifices of our ancestors.

HSC Musicology and Composition Workshop with Australian Composer, Luke Bryne

On Wednesday April 17 of the recent Easter holidays, our Year 12 Music 2 class were fortunate to spend time with the Australian Composer, Luke Byrne.  Luke took our Elective students on a fast train ride through Australian Music of the Last 25 Years, unpacking the works of Brett Dean, Martin Wesley-Smith, Phillip Glass, Ross Edwards, Elena Kats-Chernin and many more. In the second session of the workshop, our students shared their compositional ideas and hopes with Luke. It was a wonderful morning of collaboration and learning, with all present feeling nourished by Luke’s knowledge of contemporary music and passion for music making.  Despite his busy professional work schedule, we hope to invite Luke Byrne back to St Pius X College again soon.

St Pius X College Receives New Upgrades to Sibelius Composition Software

Our IT Department and Mr Cummins have been working to upgrade our Sibelius Composition licences. This product is now being rolled out to all Elective Music Students, allowing all our composers to record, edit and notate their original music using one of the world’s best composition software products.

Our huge thanks to Music and IT staff for their support of Year 12 as they work diligently to prepare their HSC programs. We hope to see the next Nigel Westlake, Ennio Morricone, John Williams or Peter Sculthorpe emerge from the opportunities we provide in Digital Music and Composition.

St Pius Vocalists Make Their Debut in Sydney’s Café Society

Congratulations to Henrik Hogg and Eugene Kim who performed in Concert at The Vintage Café in Newtown on April 6.  The crowded restaurant loved being serenaded by our talented singers.  Our sincere thanks to teachers Maria Timofeeva and Andrew Goodwin for organising this fantastic opportunity.

Save the Date:  Mother’s Day Liturgy and Mass Friday May 10

All mothers, grandmothers, aunties and friends are welcome to attend our upcoming Mother’s Day celebrations. We can’t wait to spoil you with cups of tea and songs. Tissues provided!  

Details and RSVP information can be found on the Principal's Page of this newsletter.

St Pius Parents and friends are cordially Invited to attend our Performing Arts Parents’ Association Meeting TONIGHT - Wednesday May 1 @ 6.30pm in the Band Room.

Parking is available in the College grounds - refreshments and friendship provided. We encourage all parents and friends to join this inclusive team.

Once again welcome to Term 2. The seeds of success are planted, let’s all work together to help every child at St Pius to grow.

Ms Pip Waters - Acting Performing Arts Coordinator