Performing Arts News

It has been a vibrant and rewarding term across Performing Arts, with students engaging enthusiastically in a wide range of learning experiences across Music, Drama and Dance. From our Year 5 students being inspired by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s Cartoon Classics performance, to the excellent work being done by our Year 6 leaders in Junior School Music, it has been encouraging to see students growing in confidence, creativity and skill. 

It has also been fantastic to see our senior students completing their assessments to such a high standard. Watching their artistic voices develop through their work has been genuinely inspiring. These opportunities not only enrich students’ artistic understanding but also strengthen important areas such as teamwork, discipline, leadership and self-expression. We are very proud of the way our students continue to embrace Performing Arts with such energy and commitment.

Junior Performing Arts

A musical adventure with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Mrs Jill Norton, Primary Music Teacher

On Tuesday 31 March, our Year 5 students enjoyed a wonderful music excursion, walking to Federation Concert Hall to attend the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s lively performance, Cartoon Classics. The concert featured familiar and much-loved theme tunes from Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, The Simpsons and Bluey, which brought great excitement to the audience.

This experience was especially valuable for our students, who were able to see and hear the instruments they have recently begun learning in our concert band program, performed by professional musicians. It was both inspiring and engaging and provided a fantastic opportunity to connect classroom learning with a real-life performance.

A highlight of the day was meeting some of the orchestra members after the concert. The musicians generously spent time with the students in the foyer, chatting, demonstrating their instruments, and even playing a few extra tunes up close.

Our students are to be commended for their excellent behaviour throughout the excursion. They were respectful audience members and represented our school with pride. Despite the hot walk back to school, they showed great resilience and handled the conditions well.

We have also been very impressed with the effort put into this term’s Year 5 assessment task; creating a poster about their chosen instrument. These colourful and informative posters are now proudly displayed in the music room and reflect the creativity and dedication of our students. It has been wonderful to see them developing practice habits at home and steadily improving their skills each week.

Keeping the beat in Daily PE

Ms Mary Heferen-Faulkner, Primary Music Teacher

Our Year 6 leaders are doing such an important job demonstrating beat and body percussion activities with the primary and early childhood students during Daily PE.

Keeping the beat, clapping rhythms, improvising body percussion patterns and singing simple nursery rhymes all help strengthen the neural pathways in the brain, which in turn support literacy and cognitive skills.

Participation in these daily activities will help develop a strong habit, empowering our students in their lifelong learning.

Year 5 Band Open Rehearsal

This Thursday 16 April, we are excited to invite parents and carers to a special Year 5 Band open rehearsal. This will be our students’ very first public performance, and your support and encouragement would mean a great deal to them.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see firsthand the progress students have made throughout the term.

There are two Year 5 Band sessions. Please refer to your child’s timetable on Connect to confirm which session they are in:

Rehearsal A: 1.45pm–2.15pm

Rehearsal B: 2.30pm–3.00pm

Location: St Peter’s Hall (enter via the steps on Harrington Street)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Senior Performing Arts

Miss Lisa Thomas and Mrs Natalie Venettacci, Secondary Teachers

Congratulations to our Senior Drama students on completing their first performances of the year! Students in Year 11 recently presented their Prose performances, which were rehearsed in an engaging ensemble format. These performances showcased a captivating use of space and highlighted students’ ability to work collaboratively as a team. Our Theatre Performance students performed their Contemporary Monologues, demonstrating strong preparation, attention to detail and thoughtful character development. It was fantastic to see these students embrace their first performances for the year with such focus and enthusiasm. 

As part of their coursework, students also attended a performance of Things I Know to Be True at the Theatre Royal, supporting students to connect their classroom learning to professional practice. The production held a special connection to our school community, having been directed by Ivano Del Pio and musically accompanied by Michael Power, both former SMC teachers. Students greatly valued the opportunity to reconnect with these industry professionals following the performance.

Rehearsals for the students' mid-year shows are now underway. Stay tuned!

Instrumental program 

Mr Scott Weston, Coordinator of Music 

Music is vibrant and thriving at St Mary’s College, with exciting things happening across the year levels. All students in Years 5 to 7 have now been allocated their class concert band instruments and are enthusiastically playing through a variety of pieces. It has been wonderful to see and hear students developing their skills, working collaboratively and making great music together as part of their classroom learning.

In addition to classroom music, the Music department offers a comprehensive private instrumental and vocal tuition program for students across the school. While participation in private lessons is optional, it provides a fantastic opportunity for students to build confidence, refine technique and make strong musical progress on their chosen instrument.

Lessons are delivered during school time at a cost of $40 per half-hour. Instrumental tuition is available in voice (singing), piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drums, violin, cello, bass guitar and guitar.

Families interested in enrolling their child in private music lessons or seeking further information are encouraged to contact Mr Scott Weston at sweston@smc.tas.edu.au. 

 We look forward to continuing to nurture a strong and dynamic music culture at St Mary’s College.