Senior Performing Arts

Co-curricular Ensembles

Playing in a music ensemble has many benefits for children, including developing social skills, building confidence and learning how to be a team player.  Learning music helps cognitive development, improves recall and retention of verbal information, and advances mathematics and English skills.  Aside from this, playing in an ensemble is fun and we encourage our students to join an ensemble as soon as they are able.

Our co-curricular music ensembles will commence from Monday Week 2 (2 February 2026).  Exceptions to this are Orchestra, Stage Band, Wind Quintet, VOX, Chamber Choir, Koristers and Con Brio String Quartet, which will commence in Week 3. 

The timetable of ensembles is below.

Ensemble Placements

Should your child wish to join one of our co-curricular ensembles and they missed ensemble placements this week, please contact Mrs Shields via email jshields@kws.nsw.edu.au.  It is not too late to join!

Private Instrument and Vocal Tuition

Kinross Wolaroi engages 23 highly qualified visiting tutors who offer a wide variety of instrumental and vocal lessons.  Private tuition is available for the following:

• Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophones, Bassoon
• Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Euphonium, Tuba
• Percussion: Drum Kit
• Strings: Violin, Viola, Double Bass, Guitar (Contemporary & Classical), Bass Guitar
• Voice 
• Piano

New students must complete a 2026 Enrolment Form for private tuition. https://thehub.kws.nsw.edu.au/redir.php?id=688

Lessons cannot commence until forms have been returned to the Performing Arts Administrator. Please contact Mrs Sharon Martin at performingarts@kws.nsw.edu.au if you would like to organise enrolment for private instrumental tuition.

Musicianship

It is strongly recommended that students who have reached Grade 2 or 3 on their instrument undertake musicianship lessons.  Musicianship classes are run in small groups at various times throughout the week by a well-qualified visiting music tutor. Parents can enrol their child for musicianship classes via the 2026 Enrolment Form.

Should you have any queries regarding the co-curricular music ensembles, instrumental tuition or musicianship please do not hesitate to contact the Music Administrator, Mrs Sharon Martin at performingarts@kws.nsw.edu.au, Mrs Katie Sinclair, Junior School Performing Arts Co-ordinator at ksinclair@kws.nsw.edu.au or Mrs Jacqueline Shields, Head of Performing Arts at jshields@kws.nsw.edu.au 

Camerata Competition

Our annual Camerata Competition will be held during the school day on 10 March 2026. This performance competition is open to secondary school classical musicians, including both instrumentalists and vocalists, and will be adjudicated by a panel of external musicians. All participants will have the opportunity to perform at the Camerata Concert in the Derek Pigot Auditorium on 20 March 2026. More information and a sign-up sheet will be posted on the HUB this week.

Music Immersion (Music Camp) 

Thursday 12 March – Saturday 14 March inclusive

We are excited that Music Camp is fast approaching and are looking forward to three days of rehearsals and activities with orchestra, concert band, chamber strings and stage band.  This year orchestra rehearsals will be joined by members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows.  This will be a fabulous opportunity for us to learn from these excellent musicians. 

Further information will be sent to families of students in these ensembles soon.

ANZAC DAY Saturday 25 April 2026

Marching Band will again be participating at the City of Orange ANZAC Day March on Saturday 25 April.  Marching band is made up of students in Concert Band and Drum Corp.  We are looking forward to leading the Kinross Wolaroi School contingent again this year. Further information will be sent to families in the coming weeks.

Our New Piano Has Arrived!

We are excited to announce that our new 7ft Shigeru Kawai grand piano arrived last Friday afternoon!  It is a beautiful instrument that will bring joy to our students, from Kindergarten to Year 12, for many years.

Thank you so much to all who helped with our fundraising appeal – Performing Arts staff, the Marketing and Engagement team, and school families. Particular thanks to Dr Lauren Auteri, whose support with fundraising for this piano has been invaluable.

Our school accompanist, Mr Luke Moxey, was particularly excited to play the piano.  Please take a moment to watch this brief video of his test run of the instrument when it arrived last week.

Key Performing Arts Dates for 2026

• Scholarship Day (Music scholarship auditions) | Monday 9 February
• On Stage - Years 12 | Thursday Friday 12 - 13 February
• Encore Excursion – Year 12 | Monday 2 March
• Camerata Competition | Tuesday 10 March 
• Orange Chamber Music Festival | Thursday 12 March and Sunday 15 March 
• Music Immersion | Thursday 27 March 1pm – Saturday 29 March 6.30pm, DPA + Music Faculty
• Camerata Concert | Friday 20 March
• Music Festival | Thursday 4 June 6.00pm DPA
• Junior School Performing Arts Evening | Thursday 11 June 5.30pm, DPA 
• Performing Arts Elective Showcase | Thursday 18 June 6pm, PT
• Musical Intensive Rehearsals | Monday 13 July – Friday 17 July, DPA
• Musical Performance Week | Monday 20 July -Saturday 25 July, Civic Theatre
• AMEB Exams | Monday 20 July – Thursday 20 August
• HSC Drama Showcase | Friday 21 August, PT 6pm 
• HSC Recital Music 1 | Wednesday 2 September, PT 6pm
• HSC Recital Music 2 | Friday 4 September, PT 6pm
• Carols Service | Sunday 29 November, Holy Trinity Church 4pm
• Junior School Celebration Assembly | Wednesday 2 December, DPA
• Speech Day | Thursday 3 December, DPA 10am

Please note, these dates were correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.