PERFORMING ARTS
It has been another fantastic fortnight in the Performing Arts faculty. There have been so many extraordinary performances that have demonstrated the amazing growth that students have undertaken over the past year. All students should be incredibly proud of the work that they are producing, as we are as their teachers and mentors.
PERCUSSION NIGHT
On Monday 14 October, McKinnon Secondary College held the annual Percussion Night in the auditorium. The evening was filled with many upbeat and impressive performances from our school's extremely talented percussion students, all taught by the skilful Mr Golovko. Each student including myself worked hard to show off their individual talent to all of our families and friends who came to support us.
Overall, the evening was definitely a highlight of the musical events this year as a wide variety of diversity was demonstrated over an array of different instruments. This experience is great not just for music students but for everyone and I encourage everyone to come check it out next year! Thank you Mr Golovko and all the percussion students for making this night possible.
Lulu Quaife and Sabrina Vitiello
Year 10 Percussion Students
BIG BAND BASH
Congratulations to all students involved in the Big Band Bash on Friday 18 October. The three Stage Bands and the Saxophone Quartet performed to an excellent standard, due to their commitment and dedication to the regular rehearsals they attend on a weekly basis.
It was fantastic to see the Gigs on the Green bands perform and thank you to the teacher band who also entertained the highly enthusiastic audience. Thank you to the AV team, facilities, student helpers, all the music staff for their ongoing support and the ensemble directors: Stuart Byrne, Martin West, Colleen Wurfel and Andrew Albanis for their work with students throughout the year.
Andrew Albanis
Senior Stage Band Director
YEAR 9 DRAMA AND MUSICAL THEATRE INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS
On Thursday 17 and Tuesday 22 October, both the Year 9 Musical Production and Drama classes respectively attended workshops at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts).
Learning further about Musical Theatre and specifically Matilda the Musical, Musical Production students undertook training in how to incorporate acting skills through song and dance. The Drama students also had a wonderful day introducing them to 'how to devise' which will be the focus of their final learning task for the year.
Congratulations to all students for two successful days and learning from industry professionals.
Ellie Adler
Drama and Theatre Studies teacher
STRING QUARTET AT CLAREMONT TERRACE
On Wednesday 23 October the String Quartet headed by Georgina Mead walked up to Claremont Terrace to perform for the residents at 2pm. The quartet consisted of Yeri Soung (Year 10) on first violin, Georgina Mead filling in on second violin, Julia Rodda (Year 10) on viola and Gwendolyn Thiere (Year 10) on cello. The quartet played a selection of music; Underground Tango, The Master Plan, Sweet Child of Mine, Hallelujah and Colours of the Wind.
The residents were touched by the performance and we also met a grandparent of a student from McKinnon who currently learns the violin from Georgina Mead! We hope to expand our repertoire and add more people to our performance and make it a yearly event.
Georgina Mead
Violin Teacher
PIANO BY CANDLELIGHT CONCERT
On Thursday 24 October, twenty-two McKinnon students took to the stage to perform in McKinnon's annual Piano by Candlelight concert.
The audio/visual team did a brilliant job in setting up the Auditorium with candles and mood lighting! With the grand piano situated in the centre of the room, the talented pianists from Years 7-12 performed a diverse range of repertoire spanning from the 18th century to today, and from many different parts of the world. The audience was treated to works by famous composers for the piano such as Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and Clara Schumann, as well as music from movies and video games that have been adapted and arranged for the piano.
Congratulations to all of the students who performed with such skill and musicality!
Tom Baldwin
Classroom Music Teacher
STRING QUARTET AT THE GRAND REUNION
Congratulations to the fantastic String Quartet led by Clare Bugeja who provided background music for the Thistleonians Grand Reunion on Saturday 26 October in the MERC. The Year 12 quartet consisted of Kaihan Jin, Phoebe Rodda, Jack Sweeney, and Minh Tran and were warmly received by the assembled crowd.
Clare Bugeja
Instrumental Manager
2025 SCHOOL MUSICAL PRODUCTION
We have recently announced that our musical production for next year will be Mary Poppins.
All students in Years 7 - 11 are invited to audition in Week 8 of this term. All the information about how to prepare for auditions is on this webpage. We will also invite new Year 7s to audition early next year.
We would also love to hear from any parents or family members who are interested in supporting the production, for example with costumes or props! Please email Lucy Angell on agl@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au if you would like to know more.
Lucy Angell
Production Coordinator
UPCOMING DATES
- Year 11 Theatre Studies Night - Friday 1 November - McKinnon Road, Theatre
- Woodwind Concert - Thursday 7 November - East Campus, Mezzanine stairs
- Intermediate Concert – Tuesday 19 November - East Campus, Gym
- Junior Concert - Thursday 28 November - McKinnon Road, Hall
Megan Papworth
Head of Performing Arts