PERFORMING ARTS

WIND SYMPHONY REHEARSES WITH COMPOSER SALLY GREENAWAY

The Wind Symphony recently had a very special and successful online rehearsal via Zoom with acclaimed Australian composer Sally Greenaway. Students had the unique opportunity to work directly with Ms Greenaway on her exciting piece Around the World, which the ensemble is preparing for performance at the upcoming Senior Concert on 28th May.

During the rehearsal, Ms Greenaway provided valuable insights into the inspiration behind the piece and offered detailed feedback to help bring the music to life. Students were engaged, inspired, and thrilled to collaborate with a living composer whose work they will soon share with a live audience.

Don’t miss the chance to hear Around the World and more at what promises to be a memorable evening of music!

Lindsay Ryan

Instrumental Teacher

MARY POPPINS REHEARSALS AND WORKING BEES

With 60 students in the cast and another 30 helping out in various backstage roles, the theatre is becoming a hive of activity as preparations continue for Mary Poppins!

Our Sunday rehearsals are especially fun and busy. These longer rehearsals are the best time to really refine choreography and start to add in the many props and set items. We have been grateful to also have some parent helpers for set painting and prop making in our working bee sessions. The school musical is a true community-building event. 

Stay tuned for tickets to go on sale later this term. 

Lucy Angell

Producer

STRING FEST

On an icy cold Wednesday May 21 and a group of intrepid young string players braved the elements and journeyed to Beaumaris Secondary College (by heated bus) where they joined forces with other students from the South-East Region.

The students collaborated with students from Beaumaris, Mentone Girls, Sandringham, Dandenong and Cranbourne, and Somerville Secondary Colleges, Nossal and Mac Robertson Girls High School. There were a total of 130 students under the baton of esteemed conductor Elizabeth Fremantle.

Throughout the day the students valiantly versed Wagner, mastered the miraculous Monday, manipulated the munificent and memorable Martin, and finally, grappled with Griesinger.

Jill Griffiths and Georgina Mead

String teachers

JJ BRAITHWAITE - JAZZ LAB 

On Tuesday 20th May JJ Braithwaite (Year 12) Performed with the Melbourne Youth Jazz Orchestra at the Jazz Lab in Brunswick. JJ delivered a confident and stylistically appropriate performance of Wyrgly - Maria Schneider, 15 Step - Radiohead arrangement and El Cabarojeno - Bob Mintzer, demonstrating a strong grasp of tone, phrasing, and jazz articulation. His melodic interpretation demonstrated maturity and a sophisticated sense of musicality. His improvised solos were a highlight of the night, showing creativity and a heightened sense of harmonic awareness. 

Sonja Horbelt, a highly renowned conductor, led the orchestra with deeply expressive gestures, drawing out layered textures and carefully sculpted dynamics. Under Sonja’s baton, the orchestra responded with fervent commitment. 

It is such a pleasure to watch JJ perform at this level and see him continue to pursue every opportunity. 

Ben Browne

Classroom Music Teacher

VOCAL NIGHT

Congratulations to the amazing voice students who performed, many as soloists, on Tuesday May 20 in the Theatre to a highly enthusiastic audience. The standard of performance was outstanding for all performances, from the Junior Singers (made up entirely of year 7 students), through to the highly proficient year 12 students in their last vocal night performance. It was fabulous to see and hear all of you progressing on your performance journey.

Thank you to the Media and Audio Visual team for their work on the night, and to Leah Humphrey and Megan Papworth for their supervision of students on and off stage. Thank you to Laura Main and Blanka West for their preparation of students for the evening, and especially to Blanka  overseeing the whole night. We thank all the family, friends and staff who came on the night to support the performers.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Megan Papworth

Head of Performing Arts