Pedal Power Cinema Music Performances

A huge thank you to our following performers for entertaining the crowd before the movie screening at this year’s Pedal Power Cinema, and a special shout out to our staf performers, Paul Sturgess, Liam Turner and Ayla Scurrah and thanks to Eli and Rory for being our emcees.

Jazz band for opening, led by Tony Hicks

Middle School and Senior School Rock Bands, led by Andy Clarke

Kinu Wright, Rania Courtney, Juno Kirikari, Abby England, Eli Rampono-Kelly, Archie Hulls, Elsie Falkiner, Jollie Tong, Nimisha Rakesh, Emmanuelle Upton Pravda, Hannah O’Donell, Indi Lewis, Ananya Baskin, Arabella Meyer Grieve, Giselle Scott, Mimi Kirsner-Reuten, Chloe Dupeux, Lila Simpson and Rory Swannell.

Congratulations to Indi Lewis

Congratulations to Indi Lewis in Year 11 who launched their latest single, “Pleaser” on Sunday 16 March, supported by Ananya Baskin on guitar and Trevor Higgins on Drums. It was a great gig featuring all of Indi’s original songs performed to a very enthusiastic audience.

Top Class Music Excursion

This year our Year 12 Music students were in for a treat, enjoying an excursion to the Recital Centre on Wednesday, 17th March to see Top Class Music. These top scoring performers of the previous year’s state wide cohort displayed great levels of expression, technique, and creativity with pride. Performances ranged from classical Indian singing, a Mama Mia tribute featuring a piano, ‘cello and violin trio, all the way to a complex timpani arrangement of “Fandango” which included flamenco dancing! These performances not only set a model standard of how to perform, but more importantly how to feel and how to share those feelings to the audience.

Audrey Ahmed

Year 12 Music

Life is a Cabaret

This year, our Arts Captains are debuting a new musical theatre initiative – “Life Is a Cabaret: A Celebration of Musical Theatre,” which will be a one night only show in Term Three on Friday 15 August filled with numbers from some of the greatest musicals. Open to all students in Years 7-12, this is a low commitment, high reward opportunity to get involved in the performing arts, make new friends, and show your love for musical theatre. There are parts for everyone, from soloist characters to chorus members, as well as non-performing opportunities backstage.

Missed last week’s information session? Please refer to the PowerPoint.

Rehearsals will begin in Term Two.

If you have any questions please email Nora Dandurand (Arts Captain)

Nora Dandurand

Senior Executive Arts Captain

VCE Drama and “The Robot Dog” at the Melbourne Theatre Company

The VCE Drama students had their second trip to the theatre a few weeks ago and saw their second compulsory VCAA nominated performances, “The Robot Dog”, again at the Melbourne Theatre Company.

It’s 2042 and Australia is more automated than ever before. Janelle, a woman of Cantonese heritage, and her partner Harry, a First Nations man, move back into Janelle’s family home after the death of her mother. As they attempt to navigate their work, relationship and job-seeking requirements, they find themselves assisted by the quirky AI controlling their home and a robotic therapy dog. Janelle and Harry are quickly swept into a world of augmentations, restrictions and chaos.

In a not-too-distant future where culture and language is mostly performed and accessed via technology, will we feel connected to our ancestors and descendants in a meaningful way? This question is at the heart of the playwrights' intentions. At the core of the work is the intercultural relationship between Janelle, a woman of Cantonese heritage and identity, and Harry, a First Nations man.

Janelle and Harry have grown up with a complex relationship to culture and family. For Janelle, it is Asian diasporic culture and language, embodied by her recently deceased mother. For Harry, it is First Nations language and culture, appropriated by government for feel-good acknowledgements and employment initiatives.

The play dramatizes the interplay of government-corporate technology (Hus, Dog and language augments) and cultural practice (Janelle and Harry). Language augments appear to help sustain cultural knowledge and practice. Hus and Dog appear to be conscious and sensitive to the impact of culture on Janelle and Harry’s employment and wellbeing.

Youth Ambassadors

A few weeks ago, I nominated Olivia Li to become a Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) Ambassador. MTC take a total of about twelve Year 11 students from across the state to become a part of this program, so as you can imagine completion is stiff! Each school can only nominate one student. To my enormous pride, Olivia was chosen to be a 2025 MTC Ambassador. This is a huge honour, and I am so excited for the opportunities this will afford Olivia in the performing arts! Some information about this program follows:

Each year, a group of Year 11 theatre lovers have been selected as MTC Youth Ambassadors, embarking on a yearlong extension program that offers insight into the world of professional theatre. Each month the Youth Ambassadors meet with MTC staff and artists to share their experiences of theatre with like minded peers.

In 2025, Youth Ambassadors will attend 11 MTC productions at Southbank Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne and meet a range of staff and artists for exclusive Q&A opportunities. Dinner is provided before each performance. Youth Ambassadors also take a leadership role which has two functions: to act as youth representatives within the Company, and to act as advocates for MTC within their school and social communities.

I proudly present to you, Olivia Li.

As a student ambassador, I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) for an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience. From exploring the intricate world of set design and stage mechanics to engaging in thought-provoking discussions with the creative team, the visit was both inspiring and enlightening.  

The highlight was witnessing the dedication behind a live production—from rehearsals to technical rehearsals—before attending a mesmerising performance. 

I am grateful to MTC for this unforgettable experience and hope more young people can discover the magic of theatre. 

Yantong (Olivia) Li (Year 11)

AAFC