Performing Arts
Music Matters
Performing Art Captains: I am delighted to announce our new Performing Art Captains were awarded their badges at the Cocurricular Assembly last Friday. Congratulations to Max Lenton (Captain), Michael Krizan (Vice Captain – Drama) and Darcy Forster (Vice Captain – Music). These fine young men have already shown an outstanding level of commitment to the Performing Arts throughout their time at the College and I know they will bring great enthusiasm and inspiration to their leadership roles. They were already hard at work at the Drama Ensemble performances on Friday night. Bravo!
Performing Arts Festival: I have really enjoyed witnessing the talents and efforts of our young musicians and actors over the past week, as well as the opportunity to meet parents at these studio concerts. I would like to extend my thanks to our wonderful music tutors who provide such a wonderful level of musicianship and tuition to our boys: Miss Laura Power, Mr Geoff Power, Mr Shane Cranny, Mr Stephen Cummins, Mr Jonathan Dollin, Mr Ben Blunt, Mr David Sismey, Mrs Stephanie Gan, Mrs Stella Waddington, Mr Matthew Thomson, Mrs Stella Talati and Mr Ian Talati. The future of the performing arts at St Pius X is in excellent hands!
In addition, there were some energetic, dramatic, and very entertaining plays last Friday night at the Sarto Centre performed by our Junior, Intermediate and Senior Drama Ensembles. Special thanks to Ms Penny Lindley, Mrs Emma Fryar and Miss Elodie Westhoff for their dynamic work with these students. The festival culminates this week with the Strings (Monday 5:00 pm) and Percussion (Wednesday 5:00 pm) students performing in the Band Room.
Christmas Twilight Concert: Our annual Christmas Twilight Concert will take place next Friday, 17 November. This is a great community event with ALL ensembles performing at this concert and everyone singing a couple of well-loved carols to finish. PAPA will be organising a BBQ for performers who will be given some food for afternoon tea and will be able to purchase more if required. Families will also be able to purchase food and drinks. If you are able to help at the BBQ, please see the message from PAPA President, Gabe Donlevy below.
A message from PAPA: We are looking forward to the upcoming Twilight Christmas Concert on Friday 17 November as a chance to celebrate the wonderful talents of our Performing Arts students within the community and enjoy a carol or two. We are cranking up the BBQs for the night and looking for volunteers for the event. Please fill in the link below if you're available to help at all. Any help is wonderful. We will be running the BBQ through the concert so bring along family and friends and enjoy the Christmas Spirit concert outside.
Looking forward to seeing you all. Mrs Gabe Donlevy - President
Instrument collection: Please remember that if your son has hired his instrument from the school, it will need to be given into the Performing Arts office by the end of Week 8 (Friday 1 December), UNLESS he is required to perform with it at the Annual Awards Ceremony. More details to come soon.
Voice Tutor: The College is currently seeking a suitably qualified and experienced professional voice tutor for 2024, able to teach vocal technique and a wide variety of repertoire, including classical, contemporary, and musical theatre styles. Should you know of anyone who may be interested, please get them to contact either myself awesthoff@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or Stephen Cummins, Coordinator of Private Tuition scummins@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au for more information. To apply, please complete the following link: https://spxchatswood.formstack.com/forms/performing_arts_tutor.
Upcoming Performing Arts dates:
- Week 5 - Friday 10 November - Remembrance Day Assembly (Senior Concert Band)
- Week 6 – Friday, 17 November – Christmas Twilight Concert 5:00 pm (all ensembles)
- Week 7 - Tuesday 21 November - Junior School Sports Awards - College gym – (Junior School Concert Band)
- Week 8 - Monday 27 November - Year 6 Graduation and Liturgy Oxford Falls campus - (Junior Chorale)
- Week 9 – Monday 4 December - End of Year Thanksgiving Liturgy - Road to Bethlehem (Senior and Junior Chorales)
- Week 9 - Tuesday 5 December - Annual Awards Ceremony (Senior Jazz Ensemble) Oxford Falls campus
Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Performing Arts Coordinator
Performing Arts Festival
St Pius X College’s annual Performing Arts Festival will finish tonight with Percussion performances in the Band Room at 5:00 pm. The students have done themselves proud with their wonderful performances throughout the last two weeks. Congratulations!
Mr Stephen Cummins - Music Tuition Program Coordinator
Drama
Cocurricular Evening
Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Co-Curricular Showcase last Friday evening. It was wonderful to see so many families join us to celebrate the hard work of our performing arts students. Each drama ensemble presented polished performances after many weeks of rehearsals. Juggling schoolwork commitments like exams alongside rehearsals was not easy, but the cast and crew persevered with enthusiasm. We are incredibly proud of how the talents of our drama students were on full display.
Special thanks to Miss Elodie Westhoff for her guidance of the junior ensemble every Friday morning. Also, to Mrs Emma Fryar for sourcing creative costumes and props on a limited budget. Thank you as well to our new Performing Arts Captains who gave up their evening to help run a smooth event. We appreciate all the support that made the showcase such a success!
Save the date:
Our annual DRAMA SHOWCASE EVENT is on Thursday 16 November from 5:30 pm. This is a showcase of classwork from Years 7, 9, 10 & 11. I look forward to seeing you there!
Ms Penny Lindley - Drama Coordinator