Performing Arts
Music Matters
Breaking news!
I’m very excited to announce our Composition Competition!
Compose the fanfare for the St Pius X College 2027 Commencement Mass 90th anniversary celebrations to be premiered at St Mary’s Cathedral!
Current students, staff and Old Boys are invited to submit an original fanfare for performance at one of the College’s most significant events.
Composition criteria – submitted works must be:
an original composition for B♭ trumpet consort/ensemble
written in concert F major (G major for B♭ trumpets)
approximately 2 minutes duration
composed in a traditional, ceremonial fanfare style for 2 - 3 parts (trumpets only)
Ideally, the closing bars should provide a seamless transition into Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, in concert F major.
Prizes: The winning composer will receive a prize valued at $500, provided by PAPA – the Performing Arts Parents’ Association; a runner-up prize of $250 will also be awarded.
Submission information - Entries close: Friday 6 November 2026.
Entries must be submitted as a PDF score and MP3 recording and include the piece title and composer’s name. Old Boys must also include graduation year. Submit works and enquiries to: awesthoff@tpiusx.nsw.edu.au
By entering the competition, composers grant the College permission to perform and use their submitted composition at future College events. Copyright and authorship of the work remain with the composer.
Father's Day Mass Music and Breakfast Entertainment
Congratulations and thank you to our Junior and Senior Chorales, who provided beautiful music for the College Father's Day Mass. Their contribution helped create a fitting and meaningful celebration for our fathers, grandfathers and their sons.
Special thanks to Antony Autore (Year 12) for cantoring the Psalm, and to Marko Fry (Year 11) for his incredible pipe organ performance during the Offertory. Both students made a particularly special contribution to the Mass through their musicianship.
Following Mass, our Junior, Intermediate and Senior Guitar Ensembles provided entertainment during the Fathers’ Day breakfast. Congratulations to all our guitarists, and thank you to their ensemble director, Mr Cranney, for preparing the students and providing such an enjoyable musical backdrop to the morning’s celebrations.
Twilight Concert – Farewell to Seniors
Congratulations to all our performers and ensemble directors on a wonderful Twilight Concert – Farewell to Seniors last Friday evening. The concert featured performances from across our ensemble program, alongside several of our talented Year 12 HSC Music students as soloists.
A highlight was PAPA’s farewell to our graduating Year 12 Performing Arts students, recognising their contribution to Music and Drama throughout their time at SPX, as well as the touching reflection by outgoing PAPA parent, Jana Gibson, mother of Angus, Year 12. We are incredibly proud of these students’ achievements and grateful for the talent, leadership and enthusiasm they have shared with our community.
Thank you to Mr Andrew Saar, Coordinator Ensembles, for his assistance in planning the concert, and to our PAPA committee and volunteers for providing the BBQ and refreshments for our performers and for their ongoing support of Performing Arts.
Drumline – Chatswood Spring Fair Parade
Congratulations to our College Drumline, led by Dr JB Smith, who proudly represented the College and broader OLD Parish community at the Chatswood Spring Fair Parade on Saturday.
The Drumline brought wonderful energy and excitement to the parade and did a fantastic job representing SPX within the wider Chatswood community.
Thank you to Dr Smith for his continued leadership of the ensemble, and congratulations to all our Drumline students for their enthusiasm, musicianship and professionalism at this important community event.
Senior Jazz at Colours Awards Ceremony
Thank you to our Senior Jazz Ensemble and ensemble director, Mr Geoff Power for their fabulous performances at The Concourse on Tuesday for the Colours Award Ceremony. We are sorry to see our Year 12 students, Aiden Lindsay, Connor Staude, Kody Tabalon and Tom Zammit perform for the last time at The Concourse. However, we are looking forward to their final performance at the Manly Jazz Festival on Saturday September 19, 10:00 am - 10:45 am on the Jazz Stars of the Future Stage, near the Council Chambers, across the road from Manly Wharf. We hope you can join us then for some foot-tapping entertainment.
Intermediate Jazz – Forestville RSL Concert
Congratulations to our Intermediate Jazz and to Miss Laura Power for their wonderful performance last night at the Forestville RSL and thank you to their enthusiastic supporters!
HSC Music Exams
Best wishes to our Music 1 students who will perform their HSC repertoire tomorrow for external examiners in the Band Room. Our students will be supported by our talented performing arts musicians as they present a wider variety of pieces in different genres and styles.
Please remind your sons that there will be NO Band Room access from 1:00 pm tomorrow until 4:30 pm. Students can leave their instruments in the Music Office if required during this time.
Our remaining PA special events for Term 3 & looking ahead to Term 4
Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Leader of Learning, Performing Arts
Drama Matters
Treasure Island News!
Congratulations to all students who have been cast in the upcoming production of Treasure Island. See you on Monday 21 September where you will receive your scripts and be measured for your costume. Musicians will be contacted by Mr Cummins or myself before the end of Term 3. Here is the list:
Upcoming DRAMA events for Term 3
(Week 9) Wednesday 16 September 10:00 am: Elective Drama students go to Belvoir Street Theatre to see The Book of Everything.
(Week 10) Monday 21 September 3:20 pm - 5:00 pm: Treasure Island cast meet up, workshop and costume measurements taken.
Ms Penny Lindley - Leader of Learning, Drama
PAPA news
Comedy night! 17 October will be here quicker than you think and tickets are selling fast!
Now in it’s third year, our annual Comedy night fundraising initiative promises to be a great night, full of belly laughs and fun at a very reasonable cost!
Tickets are $50, including one complimentary drink. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, along with snacks, will also be available for purchase throughout the evening. Donations are also warmly welcomed.
Tickets are available here: https://events.humanitix.com/spx-papa-comedy-night-2026
Please note: This is an 18+ event, and current SPX students are not eligible to attend.
On the mic:
🙌 Tommy Dean
🙌 Fiona Cox
🙌 Bruce Griffiths
🙌 And our very own Simon Kennedy!
Gather your friends and join us for a fabulous night of comedy, community and fun – all in support of Performing Arts at SPX!
Mrs Sylvia Ulevik - PAPA President - papaparents@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au