The Arts Bulletin

Welcoming Kristen Barros as Our School Musical Director

We are delighted to welcome Kristen Barros as the Musical Director for Alice in Wonderland JNR. Kristen is a dynamic and versatile performer with an impressive background across both stage and screen.

Her theatre credits include contemporary productions such as Puffs and Between the Lines, as well as beloved musical theatre classics like Anything Goes, Grease, and Carrie the Musical.

On screen, Kristen’s experience spans commercial campaigns, short films, and projects currently in pre-production, demonstrating her adaptability across a range of genres.

As Director and Head of Drama at ROCKIT Productions, Kristen has led numerous junior musicals, including The Little Mermaid Jr, The Wizard of Oz YPE, The Many Adventures of Neverland, and Madagascar Jr. She is passionate about fostering a fun, safe, and supportive environment for young performers—one that also delivers a rich, authentic theatrical experience.

Musical Rehearsals

Rehearsals for the Alice in Wonderland JNR musical will be every Tuesday afternoon during Term 3 at 3:15pm to 5:30pm, commencing from Week 2.

Staffing Update

As we begin Term 3, we have a few staffing updates to share with our Clayfield College Music community.

We farewell Sarah Dietz, who has recently relocated to Toowoomba. Sarah has made a wonderful contribution to our Music Program, and we sincerely thank her for her dedication, talent, and energy.

We also send our warmest wishes to Emily Francis, who will soon commence maternity leave as she prepares to welcome a new addition to her family.

We are delighted to welcome Claire Tyrell to our team of Music Tutors. Claire will be stepping into Sarah’s role and covering Emily’s role during her leave. She brings with her a wealth of experience as both a performer and educator, and we are thrilled to have her on board.

“I am an experienced Strings teacher and violinist, and I am delighted to be joining the Music Tutor team at Clayfield College. I hold a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the Queensland Conservatorium and a Master of Music Performance from the Melbourne Conservatorium. As a professional performer, I have played with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, and spent almost ten years with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

 

In addition to performing, I have a strong passion for teaching. I have previously taught at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and currently teach Violin and Viola at Churchie, where I aim to instil a love of music and a sense of joy in learning an instrument.

 

At home, I share my love of music with my pianist husband and our two primary school-aged children, who play the violin and viola — making ours a very musical (and often noisy!) household.” 

 

Claire Tyrell

We are thrilled to have Claire as part of our team and look forward to the valuable contribution she will make to our Strings Program and broader musical life at our College.

Piccolo Choir Performance at NAIDOC Assembly

We are honoured to welcome a very special guest, Ruth Gee, from the Eastern Torres Strait Islands to our NAIDOC Assembly on Friday 18 July.

To assist in celebrating NAIDOC Week, Ruth has generously shared her culture, language, and music with our Piccolo Choir, teaching them her original song Kerkeri Wed – a joyful piece about sand crabs.

We are incredibly grateful for the time, care, and wisdom Ruth has given to our students. Through learning and performing this song, they have deepened their understanding and appreciation of Torres Strait Islander culture. Thank you, Ruth, for this unique and meaningful experience.