Performing Arts

Music Matters

Performing Arts Levy 2025 – Clipboard enrolments now open

Parents and caregivers will receive an email this week outlining details on how to re-enrol for participation in the Performing Arts Cocurricular program in 2025. The levy remains at $350 for the year and covers as many ensembles as your son wishes to participate in. It is an expectation that all Elective Music students are involved in at least one ensemble. This also includes Live Production Crew (sound/lighting and staging), Chorales and Digital Music Ensembles (composition using music technology).

Twilight Concert: 22 November

We are excited to invite you to our Twilight Concert tomorrow evening, where all ensembles will showcase their talents. Starting at 5:00 pm and concluding with a festive Christmas Carols sing-along for all to enjoy, come along and enjoy a fun evening! It promises to be a truly special evening, and we look forward to seeing you there. We ask that each student brings a festive hat (Santa, reindeer, elf etc) to wear. Some parking will be available on the school grounds, entry via Kirk Street.

All performers are asked to meet at Little Brother (where the concert will be held) at 3:30 pm for an important briefing about the evening's schedule and to receive their complimentary performer ticket for the BBQ, kindly sponsored by the PAPA committee and supportive parents. There will also be food and ice creams available for the school community to purchase throughout the evening. A very big thank you to our parents and carers who have offered to assist.

Instrument hire return

Please ensure your son returns his instrument to the music office after his last rehearsal or lesson this term. The school organises servicing for all instruments as per the rental policy agreement and will be available for collection from Week 1 next year. Please note, musicians in the Senior Concert Band and Senior Jazz will require their instruments for the Thanksgiving Mass and Academic Awards Ceremony on the last day of school.

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ excursion – Yesterday, our Elective Music and Drama students had the opportunity to watch the musical Dear Evan Hansen at the Sydney Theatre Company. This powerful production explores themes of mental health, isolation, and the impact of social media through the story of a high school student struggling to fit in. They also took part in an engaging pre-show Q&A session with the Director and Musical Director, followed by a student-led Q&A with the cast after the performance. The experience was enjoyed by all who attended.

Upcoming Performing Arts dates for your diaries:

Week 6 - Friday 22 November – Christmas Twilight Concert – 5:00 pm – All Ensembles
Week 7 - Monday 25 November – Junior School Graduation, Oxford Falls – Junior Chorale. Details have been emailed home to parents.
Week 8 - Tuesday 3 December – rehearsals at Oxford Falls. Details tba.
Week 8 - Wednesday 4 December – Thanksgiving Mass (Senior Concert Band and Junior and Senior Chorales) and Annual Awards Ceremony (Senior Jazz)at Oxford Falls.

And for next year's planning:

Term 1, 2025:

Week 3, Tuesday 11 February - 6:00 pm, Performing Arts parents information evening, followed by the PAPA AGM at 7:00 pm

Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Leader of Learning, Performing Arts

Drama Matters

Oliver Twist Rehearsals

Please ask your son to check the new rehearsal schedule here and ensure they can attend the final rehearsals of the term.

The rehearsals for 29 November and 1 December have been slightly changed.

If you must miss a rehearsal for any reason, please email Ms Lindley as soon as possible. Please confirm with your son if he is available for the extra rehearsals during the holidays. This will be a wonderful opportunity to complete some detailed character work and get help from a professional voice coach. Dates are below.

Drama Showcase - Tonight

Please join us from 5:00 pm at the Sarto Centre tonight for our annual Drama Showcase event. Your son should stay at school for a rehearsal and pack an extra snack to eat after school. This is for elective Drama students from Year 9-11/12 plus the students from the Intermediate Drama Ensemble who indicated they would like to perform. We have a mixture of devised pieces as well as monologues and Shakespearian duologues. Students are excited to share their work. There will be no Intermediate Drama Ensemble class this week due to this event. All are invited, and we encourage any students interested in Drama to come and watch.

'I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all that is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged.' Peter Brook

Music & Drama Excursion to STC to see Dear Evan Hansen.

On Wednesday Mrs Westhoff and I took 32 music and drama students to see this acclaimed play/musical at Sydney Theatre Company. We were fortunate enough to hear the director Liam McIlwain and Music Director Zara Stanton speak about this work. It is such a wonderful opportunity for our students to see first class productions in performance and we thank PAPA for their contribution to this event.

HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS FOR OLIVER TWIST:

Thursday 23 January & Friday 24 January 2025 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Ms Penny Lindley - Leader of Learning, Drama