Centenary Concert

The Northcote High School Centenary Celebration Concert brought 100 years of school history to life through music, dance, drama, narration and archival reflection. Presented at the Clocktower Centre on 27 August 2026, the concert was more than a showcase of performance: it was a journey through the experiences, values and people that have shaped Northcote High School since 1926. 

The concert opened with a voice-over by Celia Atkinson, grounding the evening in an

 acknowledgement of the First Nations history that long predates the school. This was followed by River Song, performed by the Senior Guitar Ensemble 

From there, the audience was taken back to Northcote High School’s beginnings. A brass fanfare, featuring current students and alumni. Newspaper reports announcing “A High School at Last”, while the words of founding figures, teachers and students recalled the opening of the school and its early years. 

 Throughout the first act, archival material gave voice to different moments in the school’s history. The exclusion of girls, the grand opening of the original building, Empire Day, wartime physical drills and the loss experienced during the Second World War were explored through readings and performances. Elgar’s Nimrod and I’ll Be Seeing You created a particularly moving wartime memorial, while Bruce Dawe’s commemorative poem for English teacher George Stirling connected the school’s history with one of its distinguished former students. 

The program also captured the humour and everyday experiences of school life. Stories of tram journeys, school discipline and even the memorable “Whipping the Cat” incident sat alongside reflections on the profound social changes of the post-war period. 

A 1950 Principal’s Report celebrating the richness brought by immigration was followed by a performance of the School Song, linking the voices of today’s students with generations who had sung it before them. 

The second act moved through the cultural and educational changes of the later twentieth century. Reflections on the arrival of television and memories of former student Henry Rosenbloom were accompanied by the sounds of the 1960s, including a lively performance of Shakin’ All Over. Traditional Greek dance recognised the introduction of Greek into the curriculum in 1975 and the changing cultural identity of the school community. 

One of the most significant moments explored was the return of girls to Northcote High School in 1989. A reflection by 1989 School Captain Anna Limongelli was followed by a performance of Roar, choreographed by Madeleine Courtney, celebrating the generations of young women who have since contributed so strongly to the life and achievements of the school. 

The school’s increasingly global outlook was represented by students from Huaibei No. 1 High School. Their participation celebrated a sister-school friendship that began in 1999 and has continued through reciprocal visits, concerts and cultural exchanges for more than a quarter of a century. 

A medley, (directed by Erica Giorgedakis), of Northcote’s annual productions from the 2000s similarly recognised the long contribution of the performing arts to the school’s identity. 

The concert then turned to more recent history. The announcement of Melbourne’s 2020 lockdown introduced a moving performance of You’ve Got a Friend, (directed by Nell Edgar) recalling the challenges of remote learning and the importance of connection during 2020 and 2021. 

Reflections on a rounded education and the school’s proud sporting tradition were accompanied by the Senior Concert Band’s performance of Chariots of Fire. 

The evening concluded by looking towards the future. A reflection on developing “an irrepressible sense of curiosity and a love of learning” expressed the continuing purpose of Northcote High School in its centenary year. 

The finale, This Is Me, brought together Senior Strings and vocal ensembles in a joyful celebration of identity, inclusion and belonging. 

The success of the concert reflected an extraordinary collective effort. A special thank you to Jackie Brogan for directing the show and bringing its many historical, musical and theatrical elements together. Congratulations also to our Performing Arts Captains, whose ideas, enthusiasm and mature leadership contributed greatly from the earliest stages of planning, and to the Production performers, who learnt their parts quickly and performed with wonderful energy. 

Thank you to Cindy Frost and the Instrumental Music and Performing Arts teams, for the enormous amount of work involved in arranging and conducting the music, preparing the program, managing equipment and transport, coordinating the stage and supervising performers. As one family reflected, the concert was “so moving”, while a former Assistant Principal summed up the evening perfectly: “Kids shone.” 

Featuring current students, alumni, visiting students from Huaibei and staff across the performing arts, the Centenary Concert demonstrated the creativity and collaboration that have always been central to Northcote High School. It honoured the people and experiences of the past while celebrating the vibrant, diverse and outward-looking school community of today - a fitting expression of the centenary theme, “Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future of NHS.”