The Arts
Hannah Slade - Choir Captain
What experience and expertise do you bring to this captaincy role?
From a young age, I have had a passion for music. I have been studying music and drama since year 7 and have participated in auditioned and non-auditioned choirs since Year 4 (but I have been singing in the shower for much longer). I have also played the trumpet for 10 years as well as participated in extra musical activities over the years such as in Brisbane Sings and the college musicals.
What excites you about this role and what do you hope to achieve?
I am very excited to step into this role in 2022, as this is the first year since 2019 that choir has been able to be put into full swing, and I am extremely excited to see the potential our new choir "Year 7 Singers" can add to Mt A's spirit. In this role as one of the Choir Captains I hope every member of choir can call choir a family, a fun space where everyone feels empowered and where everyone can celebrate the little things.
What's your favourite work of art and why?
At the moment my favourite song is "We Don’t talk about Bruno" from Disney's Encanto. You will find me at most lunch times passionately singing this song with my friends. I really admire the multiple part work and how a song with so many conflicting melodies manages to pull together a masterpiece (also love the composer Lin Manuel Miranda, he is a legend).
What are your plans post-school?
I’m still looking at my options, but at the moment considering becoming a music teacher or a sonographer.
What makes you smile?
My family, friends, my dog, music, and just having an awesome time with others.
Jorja Wallace – Choir Vice Captain
What experience and expertise do you bring to this captaincy role?
I have been part of 9 different bands and choirs over the past 8 years and moving schools twice within that time. They all ranged from auditioned to free entry ensembles that allowed me to enjoy what was on offer.
What excites you about this role and what do you hope to achieve?
Being a Choir Captain excites me as it gives me a chance to further my connections with others and to be someone that gets involved for fun. I hope to build positive relationships between all year levels and create a fun environment for people to enjoy choir for what it can be.
What's your favourite work of art and why?
The song ‘The Weather’ by Lauren Duski, because first of all I love country music and second it lets me connect with memories.
What are your plans post-school?
My plans post school are to either move to a different country to pursue a career in business, after university of course or to join the Australian Defence Force in the hopes of becoming a useful member of society.
What makes you smile?
8D music and a set of earphones.
Abby O’Brien – Visual Art Captain
What experience and expertise do you bring to this captaincy role?
The experience I bring to this role lies in me having studied Visual Arts at school since Year 7 and putting my art forward for others to see. I have dedicated my time to improving my skills outside of school because I wasn't always this committed to the arts.
What excites you about this role and what do you hope to achieve?
What excites me about this role is being able to advocate for something I'm truly so passionate about and bringing more awareness to the Visual Arts to Mount A as a whole because everybody should be able to explore their creative side.
What's your favourite work of art and why?
My favourite artworks are those of artist Tahlia Stanton. I can't pick just one because they are all just that amazing! Stanton talks about how life is an adventure and there is an abundance of inspiration all around us. She effortlessly communicates this in her pieces and I am just so drawn to their vibrancy.
What are your plans post-school?
I plan to go to either QUT or QCA and pursue the visual arts further through a Bachelor of Fine arts. This plan may change but I know and hope that I will end up working in the arts.
What makes you smile?
My friends and family make me smile because they are my number 1 supporters of my artistic journey and always uplift my creativity. Painting and sketching bring me inner joy as I am able to communicate ideas from my head on to paper or canvas and that is truly rewarding.
Casper Phillips – Visual Art Captain
What experience and expertise do you bring to this captaincy role?
I have been studying visual art for about 10 years. I have painted a mural for my previous school, ran an Art Club for a term in 2020 and I use most of my spare time for creating artworks.
What excites you about this role and what do you hope to achieve?
This role greatly excites me, as I'm very passionate about enabling artists and bringing their work to a wider audience. Being an Art Captain allows me to show my passion for the Visual Arts sector of Mount Alvernia, and shine a spotlight on the creativity of Mount Alvernia students.
What's your favourite work of art and why?
As an aspiring artist, I could point to so many movies, shows or games that have inspired me to start my journey in art. However, I think my first Studio Ghibli films (Totoro and Ponyo) revealed a special type of beauty I one day hope to achieve.
What are your plans post-school?
Post-school, I intend to go to Griffith for a course in animation, communications or visual art. My dream job is pre-production work - such as storyboarding, concept art and character design - for animations or video games.
What makes you smile?
My friends! It's never a dull moment with them.
Cara Dineen – FCIP Captain
What experience and expertise do you bring to this captaincy role?
My journey with music really began when I started playing the flute in Year 3 and since then have continued my journey with FCIP in Year 7. Extending my love for music, I started percussion in Year 9 and just this year, the piccolo.
What excites you about this role and what do you hope to achieve?
What excites me about this role is being able to encourage fellow students to achieve their goals and be able to be a helping hand and support them through any challenging times with music or even schooling issues.
What's your favourite work of art and why?
So far Aladdin the musical has been my favourite work of art as it really brought life to the good old movie that we all loved as little ones.
What are your plans post-school?
I'm still not 100% certain where my post-school life will lead me as I have my options open for sport, music or studying. Although I am certain that playing my musical instruments will always be a hobby that I will continue post-school.
What makes you smile?
Specifically with music, what makes me smile is being able to perform in front of my family whether it is in an official performance or even at Christmas time where my older brother - who is now at the Conservatorium for classical percussion - and I have a little performance for our family at home.
Lara Picton – FCIP Vice Captain
What experience and expertise do you bring to this captaincy role?
I've been playing piano for 8 years and oboe for 5 years and have completed up to grade 6 AMEB level for each. I work on teaching myself piano pieces as well as draw and paint in my spare time.
What excites you about this role and what do you hope to achieve?
I'm most excited by the opportunity to work with other arts captains and I hope to do my best to support and encourage music particularly in the younger grades.
What’s your favourite work of art and why?
I'm a big fan of Satie's Gymnopedies and Debussy's Clair De Lune as well as any orchestra pieces by Joe Hisaishi because these pieces all feel very calming and inspire me to improve.
What are your plans post-school?
I'm aiming to study environmental sciences at university once I graduate as I'm really interested in the environment and climate science but I'm also considering joining the Queensland Youth Orchestra.
What makes you smile?
Songs that put me in a good mood, nice weather (not floods) and my cats.
Tyler Mitchell - Drama Captain
What experience and expertise do you bring to this captaincy role?
I have been the Dux of Drama for three years in a row, I run the Drama Club for younger year levels every week and I thoroughly enjoy theatre and musicals.
What excites you about this role and what do you hope to achieve?
I love the ability to see my visions for Drama Club come true, the ability to impact the younger students in a way that could ignite a love for drama in them for many years to come.
What's your favourite work of art and why?
I love Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Since I first read it, it has always been one of my favourites because of the depth of the words and the hundreds of interpretations since it was first written in the 16th or 17th century. Shakespeare himself is a genius and I look up to him in many ways including his tongue-in-cheek humour, wittiness, and his legacy.
What are your plans post-school?
It is not solidified, but currently I plan on studying a dual degree of Arts and Law, but I would love to join community theatres to make sure to continue doing what I love.
What makes you smile?
Casual LGBTQ representation in media. When someone is passionate about something.
Bridget Waterson – Drama Vice Captain
What experience and expertise do you bring to this captaincy role?
I have always been passionate about drama. Wherever I could, I would perform for whoever was watching. Drama has been a prominent aspect of my life since primary school, and since coming to Mount Alvernia, I have also joined Drama Club and Drama X. I hope to inspire students to take up drama as I did!
What excites you about this role and what do you hope to achieve?
This role excites me because it will help me grow in confidence, gain new leadership skills and to show the students at Mount Alvernia the positives of being a part of a welcoming community. I would like to achieve greater participation through promoting Drama and the opportunities it gives students. This role gives me the opportunity to encourage students to push themselves and reach their full potential.
What's your favourite work of art and why?
The movie 'The Greatest Showman' inspires me because it demonstrated how people can overcome their fears by putting themselves out there, giving it their best and ignoring the judgement of people. It is important that everyone is true to themselves and do not conform to society’s expectations as 'normal', for we all are unique in our own way.
What are your plans post-school?
After school I would like to study secondary teaching with majors in Drama and Business.
What makes you smile?
Spending time with my friends and family.
