Arts News (Music, Art,Media and Visual Arts)
Beginning Term 3 :
Production
On the Home Stretch to Oz!
We are officially on the home stretch for South Oakleigh College’s 2026 production of The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition, and the Jitterbugs in our stomachs are definitely starting to flutter!
The final bits and pieces are all stringing together seamlessly as we put the finishing touches on costumes, songs, blocking, choreographing, and set pieces. Our cast and backstage crew are hard at work preparing for our upcoming primary school matinees and full-dress rehearsals.
Ticket sales are going strong, but there’s still time to secure your spot along the Yellow Brick Road! If you haven't bought yours yet, please visit the link below. It promises to be a fantastic event for the whole community.
We are also super excited to introduce our first-ever Saturday matinee performance at 3:00 PM, a wonderful daytime option for those who want to come out and enjoy the magic without braving the cold winter evening.
A massive thank you goes out to our incredible staff, dedicated students, and tireless backstage crew for the countless hours and hard work they are putting into getting this show ready.
We are beyond proud of this team, super excited for opening night, and simply cannot wait to share the joy of this production with you all!
Get your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/DNMOD
Media
Victorian State Schools Spectacular
With this year's Victorian State Schools Spectacular only weeks away, the incredible backstage technical team is hard at work bringing all the elements of this massive event together.
A special congratulations goes to Luka B, who has been given the remarkable opportunity to work directly alongside industry leaders PRG as part of the production's Lighting team! Working in tandem with the dedicated Audio and Backstage Technical Crews, they are mastering professional equipment and refining every detail behind the scenes with this great talented Victorian education project.
Chookas !!!
https://www.vic.gov.au/victorian-state-schools-spectacular
Phillip Clark
Theatre Manager
Photography
Year 10 Art and Photography class
Our Film and Art Photography students have been stepping back in time to explore the roots of visual storytelling with traditional SLR film cameras.
Long before the era of instant digital previews, photography was a delicate blend of patience, precision, and chemical alchemy. Students are gaining hands-on experience loading 35mm film, controlling exposure, and processing their own prints under the red glow of the safelights.
Mastering darkroom chemistry and negative development gives our young photographers a rare appreciation for the craft.
Lloyd Collidge
Media Studies Teacher
Visual Arts
In visual communication design, strict briefs and specifications turn raw ideas into intentional solutions. But where do those ideas come from?
It is easy to passively accept outside influences whether fed by social media algorithms or borrowed from our teachers' personal aesthetic tastes. True visual curiosity means looking past curated feeds and drawing inspiration directly from our own everyday lives and lived experiences.
We brought this active mindset to a cut-paper poster challenge inspired by Saul Bass's legendary hand-crafted film titles, posters, and opening sequences. Working by hand with paper and scissors just as Bass did in the 1960 asks year 9 Viscom students to slow down, make raw graphic choices and embrace the human touch in design.
As brand strategist Eugene Healey emphasizes, genuine value comes from authentic observation rather than copied trends. By combining real world curiosity with strict client specifications, we learn to create work that is truly for someone and our own.
The Year 8 Art
The Year 8 Art studio has been a hive of intense focus, sharp tools and valuable life lessons over the past few weeks! Students have stepped up to the unique challenge of lino carving, a medium that is as rewarding as it is completely unforgiving.
Working with carving requires respect for the tools and concentration. Linoleum or as we call it in the class "Lino", doesn't forgive a momentary slip or a rushed cut, and a few band-aids were certainly handed out early on as our artists learned the importance of keeping their non-cutting hand safely behind the blade! Why this happens after careful instruction, demonstration and small focus groups, can only be left to ones imagination.
Despite the initial wobbles and rushed or thoughtless moments, the class quickly adapted. Guided by strict safety protocols, safety bench guards and a bit of hands-on practice, our Year 8s have built genuine skill and confidence in controlling their marks and carving direction.
With their technique refined and safe habits locked in, our artists are now up to carving their final monogram. Next we move on to rolling ink, pulling prints and exploring the next dynamic stages of the printmaking process.
Keep an eye out for their finished relief prints coming soon!
Renee Gross
VCE Visual Communications, Media and Design Technology Magazine and Gallery Facilitator - Student Leadership Staff Representative
Music News
Spring Concert
Get ready for an unforgettable night of music as South Oakleigh College proudly presents our Spring Concert on Thursday the 10th of September. This highly anticipated event will showcase the incredible talent and hard work of our students, bringing together the vibrant sounds of all our outstanding ensembles.
Audiences will be treated to performances from our Concert Band, Choir, Chamber Choir, Jazz Band, Contemporary Ensemble, String Ensemble, Pop Ensemble, and, of course, our famous Acez.
The concert is a celebration of our students’ dedication and passion, developed through countless rehearsals and their commitment to excellence. Whether you’re a parent, friend, past student, or music enthusiast from the wider community, this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy an inspiring night of live performance in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Mark your calendars, invite your friends, and join us in supporting the incredible young musicians of South Oakleigh College.
Tickets are available now via the Compass link!
We’re also thrilled to announce a special evening featuring performances from our VCE Music class. This will be an opportunity for our Unit 3&4 students to present pieces prior to their exams, and for our Unit 1&2 students to build their confidence in front of a very supportive audience.
Tickets for this event are also available through the Compass link.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Aidan Prewett
Head Of Music