Performing Arts
Music Matters
Manly Jazz Festival featuring our very own Senior Jazz Ensemble!
This Saturday is looking to be a warm and sunny 26 degrees, the perfect temperature for coming to support our Senior Jazz Ensemble at the Manly Jazz Festival on Saturday 19 September, from 10:00 am – 10:45 am.
Our students will perform on the Jazz Stars of the Future Stage, located near the Manly Council Chambers, just across the road from Manly Wharf. This wonderful community event provides a fantastic opportunity for our musicians to showcase their talents in one of Sydney’s most celebrated jazz festivals and to finish their performance year in style.
We warmly invite families, friends and members of the College community to come along, support our musicians and enjoy some foot-tapping entertainment by the harbour. We hope to see you there!
HSC Music Exams
Congratulations to our Music 2 and Music Extension students who performed their repertoire in their HSC Practical exams in the Band Room today for external examiners. All students presented work of a very high calibre and should be very proud of their efforts.
Music at the Year 12 Graduation Celebrations – Week 10
Our musicians will play an important role in the Year 12 Graduation celebrations in Week 10, providing music for both the Graduation Mass and Graduation Celebration at Oxford Falls.
Details are as follows:
Tuesday 22 September – 5:00 pm Mass
All Junior and Senior Chorale members are to meet at the Music rooms at 4:20 pm to walk over to OLD Church together. Supervision will be provided for younger students if required.
Wednesday 23 September – Graduation Ceremony Oxford Falls
The Intermediate Jazz Band, along with soloists from Year 12, will be providing entertainment at the Graduation Celebrations at Oxford Falls. Students in this ensemble will need to be on a bus at 7:30 am leaving from Anderson Street, for rehearsal and sound check at Oxford Falls.
These special events mark the culmination of our Year 12 students’ time at the College, and music provides a fitting sense of occasion as we celebrate their achievements and farewell them from SPX. We are very grateful to all our musicians who will contribute their time and talents to making these memorable occasions even more special for our graduating students and their families.
SPX 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.
Our remaining PA special events for Term 3 & looking ahead to Term 4
Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Leader of Learning, Performing Arts
Drama Matters
Senior Ensemble News!
This week marked our final Senior Ensemble session for a while, as Monday sessions will now turn into rehearsals for Treasure Island. It was therefore fitting that we enjoyed a fun and celebratory session before taking a moment to say goodbye and thank you to a long-standing and much-valued member of our Performing Arts community, Angus Gibson.
Angus began Junior Drama Ensemble in Year 5 and has been a consistent and valued member of our Performing Arts community ever since. He has performed in two major productions, Oliver Twist and The 39 Steps, where he created memorable and engaging characters, as well as numerous cocurricular events. Angus is a generous actor who has always supported younger students, serving as a fantastic role model, a steady and thoughtful director, and a wonderful friend. His commitment, kindness and contribution to the Performing Arts community will be greatly missed. We thank Angus for all he has given to the Ensemble over the years and wish him every success for the future.
Drama Excursion: The Book of Everything
Sixteen years after it first appeared on the Belvoir stage, Neil Armfield’s production of The Book of Everything has returned, with our Drama students having the opportunity to see it this time around. Much of the original company has also returned and it is again directed by the mighty Neli Armfield.
Adapted by Richard Tulloch from Guus Kuijer’s novel, The Book of Everything takes us into the world of nine-year-old Thomas Klopper (Matthew Whittet), who is growing up in post-war Amsterdam. With set and costume design by Kim Carpenter this is one not to be missed.
Treasure Island News!
Monday 21 September is our first meet up as cast and crew. Please ensure you can be there. You will be measured for your costume and given a script. We will also have a ‘read through’ of the lines and talk about our upcoming rehearsals. If for any reason you are unable to attend or are sick, please email either myself, PLindley@stpiusx.com.au or Ms Ryan JRyan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
We will be creating a Clipboard group so we can manage attendances.
Ms Penny Lindley - Leader of Learning, Drama
PAPA news
Get ready for a night of laughs – PAPA Comedy Night is back!
Saturday 17 October is fast approaching, and tickets are already selling quickly for one of the most entertaining nights on the PAPA calendar.
Now in its third year, our annual Comedy Night fundraiser brings together a fantastic line-up of comedians for an evening of laughter, great company and community spirit – all while supporting Performing Arts at SPX.
On the mic:
🙌 Tommy Dean
🙌 Fiona Cox
🙌 Bruce Griffiths
🙌 And our very own Simon Kennedy!
Tickets are $50, including one complimentary drink. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, along with snacks, will be available for purchase throughout the evening, and donations are also warmly welcomed.
Tickets are available here:https://events.humanitix.com/spx-papa-comedy-night-2026
Gather a group of friends and come along for a fabulous evening of comedy, community and plenty of laughs – all in support of Performing Arts at SPX.
Don’t leave it too late – secure your tickets and join us for a great night!
Please note: This is an 18+ event. Current SPX students are not eligible to attend.
Mrs Sylvia Ulevik - PAPA President - papaparents@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au