Performing Arts

DRAMA MATTERS

Senior Drama Ensemble

Students are busy rehearsing the scenes they will present for the forthcoming Performing Arts Night on Friday 1 November as part of the Performing Arts Week. We have undertaken a range of rehearsals from improvisation to International and Australian scripts. Students will be presenting scenes from Henry IV, Part I by William Shakespeare. The focus is on the relationship between Prince Harry and Falstaff. Set mostly in the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap, London where Prince Harry regularly sits drinking with criminals and highwaymen. Prince Harry’s friend Poin’s has planned to play a practical joke on Falstaff. All of the people in the pub enjoy the banter between the friends until the news comes that there is to be civil war in Britain. Prince Harry and Falstaff end with a role-play where Falstaff pretends to be the King. Come and join us to see the students create this world, as well as scenes from the Junior and Intermediate Drama Ensembles.

Fiddler on the Roof at Chatswood Concourse Theatre

If you love musicals then please come on down to Chatswood to see this wonderful production. Directed by Andrew Benson (Newtown Performing Arts), a close friend and ally, it will be well worth seeing. For more information please follow the link:  https://theconcourse.com.au/fiddler-on-the-roof/

Ms Penny Lindley - Drama Teacher

MUSIC MATTERS  

Miguel Alvarez Symposium Star

Catholic Schools NSW Inaugural Education Law Symposium - Governance in the 21st Century

On Monday September 30, Miguel Alvarez of Year 12 was selected to perform at the Catholic Schools NSW Inaugural Education Law Symposium. A large number of executive delegates were invited to this professional development forum. While guests were there to explore the complex governance-related challenges facing the NSW Catholic School sector, they were also treated to Miguel performing his beautiful HSC Music 2 and Extension repertoire.  The Aerial Conference Room of UTS was a wonderful acoustic for Miguel to showcase his repertoire on a grand piano. Our sincere thanks to Dallas McInerney (CEO Catholic Schools NSW) and Bronwyn Hession (Senior Manager – Registration and Accreditation Catholic Schools NSW) for their warm invitation and encouragement of Miguel. Our sincere thanks to Mr. Sean Brannan, Mr. Primrose-Heaney, Mr. Cummins and Mr. Lewandowski for supporting Miguel’s performance at this prestigious event.

Miguel’s performance is captured in the attached CSNSW media release:

https://drive.google.com/a/hustlemedia.tv/file/d/1WK4sxJmgKKuiyUx-uc4iVw8h36BhCAtm/view?usp=sharing

Professional Photos from the Catholic Schools NSW Symposium can be downloaded here:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GLSSelRP5wB63PSPHWvjaw6_LLUAFFsX

Hello Manly!  St Pius Musicians - Manly Jazz Festival Stars

Congratulations to our Senior Jazz Band who performed at the 42nd annual Manly Jazz Festival over the recent October long weekend.  The internationally acclaimed Manly Jazz Festival is known worldwide for its beautiful location and diversity of music. The event presents music from a range of genres including traditional New Orleans Jazz, Funk, Latin, Fusion, Blues, Gospel, Swing and Roots.  Our St Pius Senior Jazz musicians were thrilled to perform on the same stage as local and internationally renowned musicians, including the American bassist and educator, Rodney Whitaker. 

Oliver Osborne, Daniel Mooney and Daniel Hoy further represented our College through their inclusion into the Manly Jazz “All Star Band.” This ensemble consisted of the very best student jazz musicians, auditioned from a range of schools.

Our sincere thanks to Mr Geoff Power for his fantastic work with our Senior Jazz Band and his excellent organisation of this educational experience.  Our appreciation of all the Pius parents who attended the event and Mr Sean Brannan who supported our students on the day. To quote Mr Brannan: “Our boys played like seasoned professionals. They were brilliant ambassadors of St Pius X College. Jazz by the surf, who could ask for more?”

Eugene Kim:  A Musician of High Distinction

Eugene Kim is known for his beautiful singing voice, violin skills and song writing ability. Did you know he also plays the piano?  Eugene recently sat his Grade 4 AMEB Piano Examination and was awarded a High Distinction A+ for his flawless technical work and pieces. This result is testament to Eugene’s daily practise routine and his high level of musical sensitivity. We hope that more students take up AMEB examinations as a means of working towards goals and developing technical mastery on their instruments. Well done Eugene, the St Pius X College community is super proud of you.

Congratulations to Oliver Osborne:  Early Conditional Entry to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music

We have just received news that Oliver Osborne of Year 12 has completed auditions for the Sydney Conervatorium of Music Bachelor of Performance degree and they liked what they heard! Oliver has received conditional entry to the Conservatorium. Should his ATAR be of a competent level he has secured a place in the course based on his playing ability.

This is a huge achievement for Oliver. Many trumpet players audition for the Conservatorium each year and only a small handful are selected. Oliver has worked consistently and we wish him and all our Year 12 students every success with their upcoming HSC Examinations.

St Pius Musicians on the Cusp of their St Mary’s Cathedral Debut

2019 Combined Catholic Schools Choral Festival Thursday October 24

Next Thursday 24 October our choristers from Years 5-11 will take part in the Combined Catholic Schools Choral Festival at St Mary’s Cathedral. If your son has not yet returned the attached permission note to Mrs Waters, please do so asap.

The final details for Tursday 24 October are as follows:

• Students need to wear full winter uniform.
• Boys need to pack their recess, lunch and water bottle in a small bag.
• Bring Opal Cards for the train.
• Pizza dinner and drinks will be organised on the night ($15 added to your account). We will organise special dietary needs this week.

We can’t wait to meet your sons at the College at 7.20am on Thursday 24 October and escort them via train to this wonderful day of rehearsals and our mighty concert performance of Mozart’s “Requiem”. This is a lifetime experience, not to be missed.  A poster is attached below for you to share with friends and family. 

Everyone is invited to this premier event and entry is free for our  Pius Community.

Australia’s Drought Crisis:  3 Ways to Help

During the holidays I visited my old home town of Armidale via train. I was struck by the desolate scenes out the train window of town after town drowning in red dust. When I caught up with family I heard first-hand of farmers spending their savings hand-feeding sheep, of cattle being slaughtered. Each day we listened to helicopters flying back and forth to Sydney to collect water to drench the local bushfires. Yet through these grim circumstances people stood by each other and (pardon the pun) relied on their dry, Aussie humour as a source of survival. One old cocky gave a wink and said, “I’ll see you later, I’m just going to Coffs for a bath”.  We spotted a small school where parents and staff left toys, books and clothing outside their door for those in need. A café that had pay-it-forward vouchers for those without food and a community playgroup where mums baby-sat other peoples’ kids for free. While we can’t make it rain, we can all do small things to make love reign.  Three ways to help:

1. Donate to a drought relief charity
2. Support communities by visiting country towns and buying their local produce
3. Save water and minimise waste

Performing Arts Calendar as at 16 October 2019

Wishing all our students and families a healthy, happy and positive Term 4. 

Kindest regards,

Ms Pip Waters - Performing Arts Coordinator