Performing Arts
Music Matters
What a fabulous start to the term we’ve had!
As always, music provides the backbone to many of our College events and we have started the year with a bang.
Special thanks to our talented staff, Mrs Stephanie Gan, Mr Ryan Balboa and Mr Andrew Saar for providing beautiful music at the Welcome Mass on Monday afternoon.
Our brilliant Senior Jazz Ensemble, under the batonage of Mr Geoff Power, entertained the audience at the HSC High Achievers assembly on Tuesday morning at The Concourse.
A variety of our Senior Elective Music and Jazz Band students along with Junior and Senior Choir members will be providing Music at the Commencement Mass this Friday, at Oxford Falls. These students will need to be ready for a 7:45 am departure on Friday morning and meet me outside the Music rooms for roll call prior to departure.
Parents Information Meeting and PAPA AGM
Monday 12 February, 6:00 pm Band Room
We are having a special meeting to welcome Performing Arts parents this coming Monday where all your performing arts questions will be answered regarding ensembles, private tuition and curriculum matters. This will also be an opportunity to meet with some of our tutors and ensemble directors. This will then be followed by our PAPA (Performing Arts Parents’ Association) AGM, where we will be voting in a new President and Vice President and look forward to some new faces joining the committee.
Clipboard
Thank you to those parents who have managed to enrol their students in private tuition lessons and College ensembles. Thank you also for your patience while we iron out some issues that have come to light once Clipboard became ‘live’.
Private Tuition
Private tutors will be sending an email to their students to organise lesson times starting this week. Students hiring an instrument will also be receiving their instrument. Parents whose sons have hired an instrument will also be required to sign a contract agreement which will be emailed home upon receipt of the instrument.
Junior Drama Ensemble begins this Friday and will now be held in the Sarto (the decommissioned church on the corner of Daisy and Anderson Streets). Your tutor, NIDA acting graduate, Ms Elodie Westhoff, will meet you there for a 7:30 am start. By engaging in this fun and interactive activity, students will not only gain acting and public speaking skills, but they will also develop crucial life skills such as self-expression, empathy, creativity, and adaptability. These skills can be applied to various aspects of their lives, including school, personal relationships, and future endeavours. Sign up via Clipboard, or just come and try it out this week!
Upcoming Performing Arts events:
- Week 2: Friday 9 February – Commencement Mass 10:00 am Oxford Falls – selected musicians and Junior and Senior Chorales
- Week 3: Monday 12 February – Performing Arts Parents Information evening and PAPA AGM – 6:00 pm Band Room
- Week 3: Wednesday 14 February – Ash Wednesday Liturgies – Senior Chorale
Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Performing Arts Coordinator
Music Ensembles Information
Ensemble rehearsals at St Pius X have begun this week and it has been great to hear the halls filled with the sound of music! It was fantastic to hear the Senior Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mr Geoff Power, which provided the musical entertainment for our HSC High Achievers Assembly at the Concourse on Tuesday.
A reminder to please ensure you have signed up and paid the Performing Arts levy through Clipboard if your son is involved or wishing to be involved in an ensemble this year, with special thanks to the many parents who have already completed this. Clipboard will allow for a more organized and streamlined way of scheduling and taking attendance for ensembles at the school. If you have not yet signed your son up through Clipboard, please still send them to their rehearsal to ensure they are not missing valuable time. The rehearsal schedule for all ensembles is as follows:
Mr Andrew Saar - Music Ensemble Coordinator
Clipboard and Music Tuition enrolment
After some teething issues using Clipboard for music tuition enrolment, most new students should now be assigned a tutor. You should receive communication from them soon (if you haven’t already) regarding commencement of lessons.
Please ensure that your son takes his college diary with him to each music lesson (along with his instrument and music folder).
Mr Stephen Cummins - Music Tuition Coordinator
Drama
OnSTAGE Permission Note
Please find attached the OnSTAGE permission note for Year 12 Drama students.
Improv
Students from the Intermediate and Senior Drama Ensembles are invited to take part in a short 6 week course to upskill your improvisational skills, explore the world of improv and unleash your creativity through spontaneous scenes, character development, and teamwork.
Gain essential skills like quick thinking, adaptability, and effective communication. No prior experience required. Join us for a transformative journey of self-discovery and laughter. Get ready to think on your feet and embrace the magic of improv!
The experienced and highly successful tutor Daniel Cordeaux will be teaching this unit and Ms Lindley will support him during this time. Daniel is best known for his appearances in Thank God You're Here. In 2001 Daniel was invited to join the Australian Improv team in the Montreal International Just For Laughs festival where they won the Improv World Cup.
Improvisation/Theatre Sports: Senior Drama Ensemble
The Senior Drama Ensemble had an exciting start to the week as they delved into the world of improvisation with Drama coach Daniel Cordeaux. Daniel's wealth of experience and knowledge brought a valuable perspective to the workshop. This week's focus was on offering and accepting physical offers in improvisation, a fundamental aspect of theatrical performance. Improvisation exercises allowed the students to explore their physicality and expressiveness. By offering and accepting physical cues, they honed their ability to communicate non-verbally and think on their feet.
Ms Penny Lindley - Drama Coordinator