Performing Arts
Music Matters
As our Performing Arts cocurricular program kicked off for 2025 this week, it has been a joy to hear our music rooms come to life once more. It's especially encouraging to know that many of our students have been practicing over the holidays, setting the tone (!) for an exciting term ahead.
We are thrilled to see such an incredible number of students signing up for Private Tuition lessons and joining our exciting Cocurricular Ensemble program via Clipboard. This is where you can enrol for:
Private Tuition (only required for those new to lessons 2025)
Instrument Hire (all instruments except piano, guitar, drums)
Performing Arts levy payment ($350) which covers all cocurricular (ensemble music and drama) activities
Ensemble selection – Music and Drama ensembles (please note: some ensembles require an audition so students may be moved).
Please read the terms and conditions very carefully as it is difficult to refund for incorrect choices. All students are invited to trial an ensemble for a week before committing if required.
Students continuing in Private Tuition will also begin their lessons in Week 2, although some new students might not begin until Week 3. Students will be contacted by their ensemble director and private tutor.
It is an expectation that students learning an instrument privately, as well as those studying Elective Music in Years 9 - 12 are involved in our ensembles program, as this encourages technical development, aural skills, exposure to a variety of musical genres and performance experiences. It is also great fun! Please note that if your son is new to an instrument, it is recommended that he waits on advice from his private tutor before commencing in an ensemble as he will need to acquire some technical skills first.
Singing lessons:
Thank you to the students who have signed up for singing lessons this year. We are currently interviewing for a new teacher as our previous tutor has been unable to continue with his teaching at St Pius X College due to performance commitments. You will be notified when this process is complete, and we thank you for your patience. We hope to have lessons commencing in a few weeks.
Hired instruments:
Students who are hiring an instrument from the school and have applied via Clipboard will be given their instrument in their first lesson with their private tutor. All instruments were serviced over the holidays.
Ensemble rehearsals for 2025 are as follows:
Junior Drama Ensemble rehearsals begin this Friday, 7:30 am at the Sarto Centre (cnr of Daisy and Anderson Streets), just up from the WLC.
Upcoming performances:
Our Ensembles are already performing at some of our significant events in the coming weeks:
Week 2 - Friday, 7 February – High Achievers 2024 Ceremony – Senior Jazz
Week 3 – Commencement Mass – Senior Concert Band, Junior and Senior Chorales (Oxford Falls)
9:00 am Tuesday 11 February – buses leave for Oxford Falls for rehearsals Periods 1 – 4 (students are able to leave their instruments at OF for Wednesday). Students to meet on veranda
7:30 am Wednesday 12 February - bus leaves for musicians and singers. Students to meet on veranda
Parents have been emailed relevant details
Join our fabulous Performing Arts Parents and Carers community!
Parents and carers are invited to attend an information evening concerning all things Performing Arts at the College. This will be held next Tuesday 11 February commencing at 6:00 pm in the Band Room (Week 3). This will give parents an opportunity to ask questions and meet some of our private music tutors and ensemble directors.
This meeting will be followed by the Performing Arts Parents Association (PAPA) AGM. All parents and caregivers are warmly encouraged to attend and become part of our amazing and very friendly Performing Arts family. Refreshments provided. We hope to see you there!
Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Leader of Learning, Performing Arts
Drama Matters
Oliver Twist Rehearsals
Students can prepare for their rehearsals by doing their accent work, learning lines and thinking deeply about the motivations and intentions of their character. We are now in the process of rehearsing without scripts and the crew are assisting with supporting students by being “on the book”. This means sitting with the script and feeding lines to the actors if and when they need it.
For the actors we have been focusing on the Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? for each specific moment of every scene. Actors can then ‘live’ with this knowledge while rehearsing their parts. It is an exciting development in our rehearsal timetable. Students can access this link below for the document on motivations and intentions that was covered at Sunday’s rehearsal.
Parent Helpers for Oliver Twist
We are making a call for parent helpers to assist with costume and make-up during the Easter Holiday workshops. If are able to volunteer, please contact me directly (plindley@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au), or better still, come along to the PAPA meeting next Tuesday (11 February) at 6:00 pm and meet the team.
Oliver Twist Rehearsal Schedule
Upcoming rehearsals
Drama Co-curricular Ensembles
The college offers a variety of Drama Ensembles tailored to different age groups and abilities:
Junior Drama Ensemble: Open to all students in the Junior School (Years 5-6). Join us for a fun and friendly drama session!
Intermediate Ensemble: Students in Years 7-8/9 are encouraged to participate and explore their acting skills.
Senior Drama Ensemble: For older students, this ensemble will resume in Term 2 on Mondays after school due to ongoing play rehearsals.
Important Note: Students who were in Year 8 last year and part of the Intermediate Drama Ensemble should continue in their Intermediate Ensemble slot on Thursdays until invited to join the Senior Drama Ensemble.
Ensembles for this term are as follows and are all taking part in the Sarto Centre:
Junior Ensemble (Years 5-6): Friday Morning | 7:30 am - 8:30 am Weeks 2 - 11
Intermediate Drama Ensemble (Years 7-8/9) Thursday Afternoon | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Weeks 4 - 8
Senior Drama Ensemble (Years 9 -12) begins Week 2, Term 2.
Upcoming events
Oliver Twist Rehearsals: Ongoing - please check the schedule
Wednesday 12 February: 7:00 pm OnSTAGE @ The Seymour Centre for Years 10 & 12 Elective Drama. Please check Clipboard and sign the permission note.
Wednesday 19 March: Periods 1 - 6 Picnic at Hanging Rock @ Sydney Theatre Company at The Drama Theatre, Opera House for Years 9 - 12 Elective Drama
Ms Penny Lindley - Leader of Learning, Drama