Performing Arts 

Instrumental Music Program

Our amazing instrumental music students are flying through term two with some incredible events including the amazing Generations in Jazz Festival in South Australia. 

Twenty of our senior musicians travelled to Mount Gambier on the 2nd of May to participate in this incredible festival and there were smiles all-round! We learned a lot about our playing, performing and commitment to rehearsals and we’re excited to return in the coming years.

Our ensembles placed modestly in the competition, and we sized up nicely to the schools that have been attending for decades. CESC was also recognised by the event coordinators for the extensive measures taken to ensure our kids were able to make this trip and we’re so proud of our students for the colossal effort put into their rehearsals.

For me, the highlight was seeing the friendships grow so rapidly over such a short time.

Mid-Year Music Soiree

Term two is absolutely shaping up to be our busiest term in 2025 as straight out of GIJ, we’re preparing for our Mid-Year Soiree on the 19th of June. This evening performance will run from 5:30pm-6:30pm and showcases the talent in our CORE music ensembles. It will feature some small student-led groups of which there are many. Tickets are FREE and available via: Mid-Year Music Soiree. 

This is a great chance to see what our students have been working on in term 1 and 2 and appreciate the hours of practice they have put in.

Cranbourne Lions Concert Band Festival

On Sunday 25th May, several of our CESC Concert Band students will perform with the Cranbourne Lions Concert Band and other community music groups in the Cranbourne Lions Concert Band Festival. This year, we’re proud to host this event at our very own CESC and as part of this event, students will perform in a Massed Band made up of over 100 students and community members. This truly will be an incredibly way for our students to immerse themselves in our thriving local community music scene. The CLCB festival is a fund-raising event, has a $5 entrance donation and is open to the public to attend and view. We hope to see you there!

Mamma Mia

Rehearsals for Mamma Mia Term 2 are well underway! This Term, our student orchestra are rehearsing to undertake the massive job of playing the music for our 2.5 hour show! This is the first time CESC has had a student orchestra to support the cast and we are so proud of the students who have stepped up to take on this challenge. Students have described the music as "challenging but exciting". Our student crew have also started attending rehearsals. This is the team of students who makes the theatre magic happen by creating props, operating lights, assisting audience members to find their seats, and to problem solve any other issue that arises while the show is happening! The crew spent this most recent creating the invitations for Sophie & Skye's wedding and decorating some set pieces. Finally, the Hands on Learning team have been working hard to bring our piece of Greece to life through the construction of Donna's taverna. We are so proud of these students and we can't wait to show you all of their hard work in August.

Contemporary Indigenous Theatre Workshop

On Monday 5th May, a select group of Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 students participated in the Contemporary Indigenous Theatre Workshop run by the City of Casey. Students had the opportunity to work with theatre professionals Mark Nannup and Jane Carter in bringing excerpts of Jane Harrison's The Visitors to life. Students were thoroughly engaged with the text and enjoyed the opportunity to walk in the shoes of an Indigenous leader.

Year 7 Drama

Year 7 Drama students are working hard on their production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Students will be performing to an audience of Cranbourne East Primary School students in Week 8. They have enjoyed getting into character and using Shakespearean verse. They are nervous but excited to make their on-stage debut!

Other Key News:

• Junior Concert Band Rehearsals begun on Thursday 22/05, along with Vocal Ensemble rehearsals. These two junior groups are central to developing the skills students need to participate in more advanced ensembles later in their learning. We’re excited to see these groups grow over time.
• Victorian State School Spectacular Mass Choir rehearsals will begin in the coming weeks. 15 lucky vocalists have been selected to participate in our first ever involvement in the Mass Choir portion of VSSS. Currently, there is a waiting list in place and interested students are encouraged to speak with Mr Jones or Sian ASAP!

Upcoming Events:

• Mid-Year Soiree
• VSSS Mass Choir Rehearsals Begin
• VSSS Mass Dance rehearsals continue
• Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre Bands Extravaganza!
• Production Rehearsals Continue