Message From The Deputy Principal 

There was a moment towards the end of our recent Grand Music Showcase when the room seemed to pause.

After a night of extraordinary performances, our students came together for a moving rendition of Can’t Help Falling in Love. Sitting in the audience, watching students who had spent weeks rehearsing, refining and encouraging one another, it was difficult not to feel a real sense of pride. Not simply because of the quality of the music, which was exceptional, but because of what the evening revealed about our young people.

Just days later, our Middle School students would take to the stage for Frozen Jr., providing another wonderful reminder of the depth and breadth of Performing Arts at Peninsula Grammar. From our youngest performers to our most experienced musicians, the confidence, creativity and sheer enjoyment on display were remarkable.

What struck me most across both performances was the joy.

Of course, there was plenty of talent on show. There were exceptional musicians, singers and young actors, and performances that reflected an enormous amount of skill. But underneath all of that was something even more important. Students were taking a risk. They were putting themselves out there. They were listening to one another, trusting one another and working towards something that was bigger than any individual performance.

And they were having fun.

That matters.

In reflecting on the Grand Music Showcase, Dr Vaudrey shared a sentiment that has stayed with me: “I'm not teaching music. I'm teaching Civilisation 101.” (link to the article here.) It is a wonderful way of capturing why the arts matter so much in a school. Music teaches students to listen. To collaborate. To practise when nobody is watching. To respond to others. To trust. To express themselves. And, perhaps most importantly, to experience what it feels like to create something beautiful together.

You could see all of that in the Showcase.

What we see on stage, of course, is only the final few minutes. Behind those minutes are countless hours of teaching, rehearsing, planning, correcting, encouraging and, occasionally, starting again. The expertise and commitment of our staff make these opportunities possible, and their passion for the performing arts is evident in the confidence of the students they work with.

There is something quite special about watching a student walk onto a stage looking slightly nervous and then, a few minutes later, seeing them completely own the moment. Those are the experiences that stay with young people. They build confidence, resilience and a sense of belonging. They also remind us that education is about so much more than what happens in a classroom.

As Can’t Help Falling in Love brought the Showcase to a close, it felt like the perfect ending. A beautiful piece of music, performed by our students, surrounded by their peers, teachers and families.

It was, ultimately, a celebration of music. But it was also a celebration of community, of opportunity and of the remarkable young people at the heart of Peninsula Grammar.

Thank you to every student, teacher, musician, performer, technician and family member who contributed to such a memorable occasion. Nights like this don't happen by accident. They are the product of talented young people being given the opportunity to flourish, passionate teachers who believe in them, and a community that understands the important place the arts have in a rich education.

And, as I watched that final song, I was reminded again of why we do it.

Mr Nicholas Brice

Deputy Principal