Performing Arts

Music Matters

Open Day information:

Please read the following information from Mr Andrew Saar, Ensemble Coordinator:

• All students in the ensembles that are performing are expected to attend the performance. If your son is not able to attend, you will need to contact their Ensemble Director and Mr Saar via email. Attendance will be marked via Clipboard
• Please note: Junior and Senior Chorales and Drama Ensembles are not performing at Open Day
• Students are required to wear full school uniform during performances
• Performances take priority over other commitments during the day (Tour guides, helping other departments etc), although they may assist in these areas when they are not performing 
• Students are to meet their Ensemble Director with their instrument no later than 10 minutes before they are due to perform in Music Room 2
• Times for each ensemble performance have been added to Clipboard and are also attached below
• Please contact Ensemble Directors for any further questions

Rock Band Ensemble: is seeking a keyboard player and bass guitar player, please see Mr Jones for further information. Rehearsals take place on Thursday mornings in MR2. You are welcome to come and try for a week. 

Edmund Rice Liturgical Ensemble: We are pleased to announce the official creation of our Edmund Rice Liturgical Ensemble. This in an instrumental ensemble open to all students in Year 7 – 12 and will assist in providing music for liturgies and masses, including the Parish Youth Mass. As this is a voluntary ensemble, students will not be charged the Performing Arts levy, unless they are involved in another ensemble. Year 10 students are able to use their performance time as Eddie Rice Service hours. Mr Ryan Balboa will be leading the ensemble, with support from the Music staff. Next rehearsal is Wednesday Week 7, 13 May 3.30 pm – 4:30 pm MR2. Please see Mr Balboa, Mr Saar or Mrs Westhoff for more information.

Live Music Production Crew: it is fabulous to see this new ensemble growing! The Production Crew, which focuses on developing students’ skills in lighting and sound production, along with stage management skills and is open to all students from Years 7 – 12. The crew will meet with Mr Jones every Thursday afternoon from 3.30 pm - 4:30 pm with the ultimate goal of setting up and providing awesome lighting and mixing fabulous sound for our concerts and drama productions, at the Chatswood campus, Oxford Falls and the Sarto Centre. If your son would like to come and try it out, please get him to meet Mr Jones outside the music classroom at 3:30 pm on Thursday. 

‘Endangered’ Instruments Program:  We are currently offering free instrument hire on the following ‘endangered’ instruments, with students expected to undertake (subsidised) private tuition and eventually participate in a relevant ensemble. These instruments available to be selected on Clipboard are:             

• Oboe
• Bassoon
• Bass Trombone
• French Horn
• Double Bass    
• Tuba

Please contact your private tutor, Ensemble Director or The Performing Arts office sperformingarts@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au  for further information. 

Singing lessons: We were delighted to welcome Mr Joshua Oxley, a highly experienced singer, chorister and teacher, as he commenced giving his private singing tuition lessons at the College last week. If you son is interested in singing lessons, please sign up through Clipboard. Singing helps with your son’s confidence, breath control, pitch and is great fun!

Chorales: we offer both Senior and Junior School Chorales and our numbers are steadily growing. We sing a range of musical genres and perform at concerts and masses. Your son is welcome to join or come and try at any time. Our rehearsals are Junior Chorale: Thursday mornings 7:30 am and Senior, Wednesday mornings at 7:30 am, both in Music Room 1. 

Instrument Hire: Parents whose sons have hired an instrument should receive your loan agreement via email this week for signing and returning to the school. The terms of the loan agreement are now outlined on Clipboard. Please either scan and return to sperformingarts@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or your son can return it to the Performing Arts office, next to the Music classrooms. 

Performing Arts Fundraiser Comedy night: Saturday 4 May, College gym. Our enthusiastic and creative PAPA team are working hard to provide a fun night of comedic entertainment. Tickets are now on sale, including drinks and snacks packages.   See below for more information.

Upcoming Performing Arts events:

• Open Day Saturday 16 March – most ensembles
• Yr 5/6 Liturgy Tuesday 9 April, Week 11, Junior Chorale

Term 2: 

• Anzac Day Service, Week 1, Wednesday 1 May
• Mothers’ Day Mass - Week 2, Wednesday 8 May – Chorales, other ensembles tbc
• Founders’ Day Mass, Week 2, Friday 10 May (rehearsal Thursday 9 May) Senior Concert Band & Choirs, Oxford Falls

Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Leader of Learning, Performing Arts

PAPA Comedy Night

We are very excited to announce that the tickets for our upcoming fundraiser “Stand Up Comedy Stars” on Saturday, May the 4th, are now available!

Please use the link or QR code below to get your tickets and join us for a night of laughter to raise funds that will support our boys in their performing arts endeavours.

Seat numbers are strictly limited, so get in quickly!!!

This event is open to all adult members of the SPX community (not just families of students in Performing Arts).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Drama Matters

Intermediate & Senior Drama Ensembles continue their improvisation work with Daniel Cordeaux. We are beginning to see some real progress in students making confident and workable offers in both movement and vocal improvisations. We have just a couple more weeks left and then we will be preparing for our mid-year cocurricular performances. 

Ms Penny Lindley - Leader of Learning, Drama