Principal

Last week a group of Senior School art students attended a workshop with Angelo Candalepas of Candalepas Associates, one of Australia’s most significant and renowned architecture firms. Candalepas Associates is the firm behind the new The Fox: NGV Contemporary. Angelo was in Hamilton for community consultations about concept design for the new Hamilton Gallery; a prize opportunity seized by Mrs Erica James. Angelo spoke of the way that art in general and architecture in particular can elevate our spirits and sense of belonging. By using the example of the College Clock Tower in the life of the school and the minds of our students over time, he illustrated the way in which buildings have impacts well beyond their functional utility. Angelo encouraged our students to pay real attention to the art and effects of the everyday buildings around them.

Continuing the Arts theme, we were fortunate to continue our collaborative relationship with the Australian String Quartet again this year. In town for the Dunkeld Music Festival over last weekend, these four virtuosic players spent last Thursday afternoon in workshops with College students, and then provided a free concert in the evening in the Simons Auditorium. It is always a privilege to hear players of this calibre, let alone to sit and learn from them as our music students had the opportunity to do. My thanks to Ben Singh and Ben Hiscock for nurturing this relationship, to the wonderful musicians Dale, Fran, Chris and Michael for so generously giving their time to the College, and especially to the CEO of the ASQ, Angelina Zucco, for her enthusiasm for the partnership. 

I believe that the best schools are those that know and confidently assert that the Arts are not extra or a nice-to-have, but important, central and available to all. A rich engagement with the Arts in all forms is one of the markers of an advanced and civilised society, as well as an advanced and civilised school.

I hope that all College families have a lovely school holiday break. We look forward to seeing students back on Tuesday, 22 April.