Performing Arts

Music Matters

Thank you:

to the Drumline, supported by Mr Saar and Mr Talati for entertaining the crowds at the 1st XV Rugby game at Oxford Falls. Their contribution certainly added to the festive atmosphere and supported our Rugby community in a magnificent win for our students!

Good luck:

to our Intermediate Concert Band conducted by Miss Laura Power for their performance at the State Band Championships this Sunday at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith. The students have worked with great diligence and enthusiasm to present their repertoire at a very high standard. Parents have been emailed information by Miss Power with extra rehearsal and arrival information and more details below. All welcome.

Save the date for some very special performances for our whole SPX community to enjoy:

‘Splinters, Splashes, Stage, Snaps, Stories and Sound’ - Thursday 29 August, from 6:00 pm. This night sees each of our HSC Music 1, Music 2 and Extension students perform a piece from their HSC repertoire. This is a great experience for our younger musicians to come and see the variety of styles and genres that students present for their HSC performance examination and will also feature some of their compositions. You are welcome to come and see some or all of the performances in the Band room from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
‘Farewell to Seniors’ Twilight Concert - Friday 6 September – College gym, 5:00 pm.

This concert celebrates the Class of 2024 in their final performance at the College, as a variety of our ensembles entertain the crowds. This night also sees PAPA give each Year 12 Performing Arts student and ensemble member a memento to recognise and celebrate their time in the Performing Arts at the College.

The following ensembles will be performing at this event:

Junior and Intermediate Guitar Ensembles (pre-show entertainment outside)
Junior School Concert Band
Bass Guitar Ensemble
Intermediate Concert Band
Junior Jazz Ensemble
Rock Ensemble
Senior Percussion Ensemble
Intermediate Jazz Ensemble
College Orchestra
Senior Guitar Ensemble
Senior Concert Band
Senior Chorale
Senior Jazz Ensemble
Live Production Crew will be assisting

PAPA will be supplying BBQ sausages and drinks for all performers, which will also be available to purchase by the wider school community until 5pm. Tea, coffee and biscuits will also be on offer.

Ensemble reminders:

All students learning an instrument (or voice) either within or outside the College are able to be members of our College ensembles.
All students are asked to be ready to play before 7.30 am kick off for each rehearsal (not arrive at 7.30 am!) as we lose valuable time in setting up otherwise
We also offer cocurricular activities in live production (audio and sound engineering and stage management), composition (digital music production) and drama (acting) as part of our comprehensive ensemble program
Many of these ensembles are still able to be joined mid-year. Please contact the Music department for more information.
Please continue to check Clipboard for updates on ensemble rehearsals and note if your son is going to be absent for any reason. Thank you so much to the many parents that already do this – you make the administration process at our end so much smoother!

Important Performing Arts dates for Term 3:

Friday 23 August - extra rehearsal: Intermediate Concert Band, 3:10 pm - 4:00 pm
Sunday 25 August - Intermediate Concert Band, State Band Championships - 8:00 am for 9:00 am performance (Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith). All welcome.
Thursday 29 August – ‘Splinters, Splashes, Stage, Stories and Sound’ HSC performances (one piece per student), Band Room. All welcome.
Friday 30 August - Father’s Day Mass (Snr and Jnr Chorales) and Breakfast, O.L.D. Church. 7:30 am (Guitar ensembles)
Thursday 5 September - HSC Drama examination from 8.30am – Sarto Centre
Friday 6 September - ‘Farewell to Seniors’ Twilight Concert - 5:00 pm, Gym, all welcome
Sunday 8 September – HSC Music performance tech rehearsal – full program, all students
Tuesday 10 September – Cocurricular Colours Awards Ceremony– Intermediate Concert Band
Wednesday 11 September – HSC Music 1 Performance examination from 9:00 am
Thursday 12 September - HSC Music 2 and Extension Performance examination from 1:00 pm
Wednesday 18 September - Forestville RSL Concert – Intermediate Jazz Band, all welcome
Saturday 21 September - Manly Jazz Festival – Senior Jazz - 10:00 am - 10:45 am (1st band on the Jazz Stars of The Future stage)
Tuesday 24 September – Year 12 College Farewell, The Concourse, Snr Jazz
Wednesday 25 September – Year 12 Graduation Mass – Senior and Junior Chorales

Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Leader of Learning, Performing Arts

Drama Matters

High School Production 2024-2025 Oliver Twist

The recent auditions for male roles were well-attended by the talented actors at the college. Over the next week, I will be finalising the casting decisions. This weekend, I am fortunate to be holding auditions for the many female roles in the play. We have received interest from actresses from Mercy College, Loreto Normanhurst, and Willoughby Girls' High School. It's exciting to be nearing the completion of the casting process and to begin organising our rehearsals.

There has also been significant interest from students wishing to assist backstage, and I will be scheduling a meeting with them in the coming weeks.

Splinters, Splashes, Sounds, Stage & Stories

Please join us at 6:00 pm on Thursday 29 August to watch the students from the Elective Drama HSC cohort perform their Major Works. Students work all year on their individual projects, and it is a significant achievement to present them to our wider community. This year, all students have chosen Performance as their Major Work, although they had a wide range of options to choose from, including Set, Costume, or Lighting Design, Director’s Folio, Video Drama, Theatre Reviews, Poster & Program, or Research Project.

Any student taking Drama in Year 11 next year is encouraged to attend and watch the Individual Monologue performances. This is a great opportunity to familiarise yourself with one of the Major Work choices for Year 12. Students will be performing monologues from the following plays: Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Producers, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found, and Decadence.

Upcoming dates:

Friday 23 OR Sunday 25 August: Oliver Twist auditions for female roles
Thursday 29 August: Splinters, Splashes, Sounds, Stage and Stories: HSC Drama students will perform their Major Work performances
Thursday 5 September 8:30 am: HSC Drama Practical Examination

Ms Penny Lindley - Leader of Learning, Drama