The Arts

Visual Art Studio 

Visual Art Studio – Open Studio, 8 week workshop for Term 1 – is now full and will commence in Week 3 Friday 14 February 2:30 pm - 4:15 pm.

Artist in residence – Sophie Munns – worked with our Year 11 Visual Art students this week as an introduction to the Unit ‘Art as Lens’ in the Senior Visual Art Curriculum. Sophie’s workshop gave students the opportunity to work with the artist and develop an approach to visual documentation highlighting the significance of seed research and preservation. 

Call out to all artists and sculptors

The theme, LITTLE CRITTERS in Quinn Park, is a sculpture event on Sunday 2 March 2025 from 9:00 am to 12 midday for Clean Up Australia Day. 

Art Space Toowong is aiming for 200 sculptures in the park all made from found and recycled materials.  See attached a flyer with the details. 

Instrumental Music

Welcome back to another exciting year of Instrumental Music! 

The Gap State High School has been known for its strong and successful instrumental music program which has won many awards. The Instrumental Music Program has 12 different ensemble groups who rehearse regularly.  Lessons have now started, and Ensembles/Band are commencing as well.  The first performance for most groups will be on Friday 28 March at our TULA Concert in the JA Robertson Hall.  We would also like to welcome all the Year 7 Instrumental Music Students who are joining the Program in the next part of their exciting musical journey. 

For those who are interested, the PoPArts Committee (the Parents of Performing Arts) will be holding a Trivia Night on Friday 14 March. This Committee works to support the ongoing development of the Arts programme across the school including – Music (Instrumental and Classroom), Drama, Film, Television and Multi-Media and Visual Arts. 

The PoPArts Committee meets at 7:30 pm on the second Tuesday of every month (during Term time) in the N5 Music Room (N Block).  Parents and friends are welcome to join us – our first meeting is in Week 3 – Tuesday 11 February.

Ensemble Rehearsal Times

Please see below for the commencement date:

• Concert Band – Monday 10 February – I2/3 (JA Hall music rooms)

• Paganini String Orchestra – Monday 10 February – N6

• Cello Choir – Tuesday 4 February – N6

• Stage Band – Tuesday 11 February – I2/3

• Choirs (more information to come) – Tuesday 25 February

• Wind Ensemble – Wednesday 5 February – I2/3

• Amadeus String Orchestra – Wednesday 12 February – N6

• Big Band – Wednesday 5 February – JA Hall stage

• Asymmetry – Thursday 30 January – I2/3 – 7am

• Vivaldi String Orchestra – Thursday 13 February – N6

• Symphonic Winds – Friday 14 February – I2/3 (no ensemble Friday 7 February due to the swimming carnival)

Just a reminder - All rehearsals (except Asymmetry) start at 7:30 am with students expected to arrive at 7:15 am to help set up, tune and get settled. To start the year, members of Amadeus, Paganini, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Big Band or Asymmetry are invited to the Annual Music Camp being held at Lake Ainsworth from 17 to 19 February.  This Camp is one of the highlights for the Intermediate and Senior Music Students and which features a fancy dress Trivial Night. The Junior Ensembles will be having a day workshop with Guest Tutors and Conductors, and fun activities.

Here's to a wonderful year of Music!

Vocal Music Update

Ms Dargusch and Ms McMullen will be running our vocal ensembles this year with the wonderful Mrs Collins continuing to work with us as our accompanist. We are trying a new format and some new groupings, but the rehearsal day will stay the same – Tuesday morning before school. 

From 7:15 am - 8:00 am we will be running an auditioned choir called (tbc) The Gap Voices. This is a small group who will perform a Capella and accompanied songs for some of the big events in our calendar. We will be starting rehearsals for this group on Tuesday 4 February. Students involved have received an invitation and we will be holding auditions in Week 3 for any other interested vocalists. Students interested in joining this group should email Ms McMullen mmcmu8@eq.edu.au to register themselves for the audition and start to prepare a song to showcase their range and capability. Please note, the ability to hold a part against 2 or 3 other vocal lines and an accompaniment is required, so choral experience is beneficial.

From 8:00 am - 8:30 am, we will have a big, un-auditioned choir called Voiceworx with a “Pub Choir” kind of vibe open to anyone who wants to come and sing in a fun, contemporary environment. Voiceworx will have their first rehearsal on Tuesday 25 February – Week 5. We hope to see all students who were in last year’s Chorale at our first rehearsal to show our new students how it’s done.