A Creative Term Ahead for CAPA

Term 3 is shaping up to be an exciting and eventful time for CAPA at Epping Boys High School, with our students preparing for a range of performances, exhibitions and community events that celebrate their creativity and achievement.

Looking ahead, An Evening of Music will take place in Week 6, featuring performances from all of our music ensembles, alongside a special performance by our Year 7 Massed Choir. In Week 7, we will celebrate the CAPA HSC Showcase and Art Exhibition, providing an opportunity to recognise the creativity, dedication and achievement of our HSC Visual Arts & Music, Visual Design and Photographic and Digital Media students. We will finish the term with the Community Concert in Week 10, bringing together our musicians for another celebration of music-making at Epping Boys High School.

A particularly exciting highlight of the HSC Showcase will be a special visit from George Gittoes AM, renowned Australian artist, filmmaker and humanitarian. George is one of the case study artists studied by our HSC Visual Arts students, making his visit especially significant for our Year 12 cohort. Students have engaged closely with his artworks and explored how his practice responds to conflict, social issues, human experience and the role of art in communicating powerful ideas.

We are extremely grateful to George for taking the time to visit Epping Boys High School, speak with our students and share his experiences as an artist. His work provides an inspiring example of how artists can use their practice to respond to the world around them and create meaningful connections with communities. George will also speak about the Yellow House in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, a creative initiative he established with his wife, artist Hellen Rose, providing opportunities and a safe space for people to engage in art, film, music and performance.

Another important focus for CAPA this term is the ongoing support and involvement of our CAPA Promotional Team, whose student members play an important role in promoting the creative opportunities available across the faculty. The team assists with events and activities throughout the year, including subject selection evenings, helping to showcase CAPA to prospective students and encourage greater participation in the arts.

We would like to sincerely thank our outgoing CAPA Captains for their leadership, enthusiasm and contribution to the faculty. We also congratulate our newly selected CAPA Captains: Sivansh C (Music) Ayden L (Drama), Wilson Z (Music Ensembles) and Walter C T (Visual Arts). We look forward to supporting these students as they take on their leadership roles and help represent the diverse and vibrant CAPA community at Epping Boys High School.

Our CAPA staff, music directors and student leaders have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare for what promises to be a memorable term. We look forward to welcoming our school community to these events and celebrating the talent, creativity and achievements of our CAPA students.

Louise Whalley (HT CAPA)

Year 9 Drama – getting physical!

In stage 5 Drama students are building dynamic, and visually striking, pieces of physical theatre. These students have been taking part in challenging physical workshops designed to build more advanced performance skills such as stage lifts and flys.

Mr Taplin

Around the art rooms!

Year 8 Neo Pop Paintings

8VAR1, 8VAR5 and 8VAR14 have gradually completed their Colour and Imagination unit of work, concluding the program with a series of Neo-Pop paintings. This task encouraged students to work more autonomously, developing their creative thinking and problem-solving skills through careful consideration of colours, patterns, composition and subject matter. Students were also encouraged to take creative risks by layering the background with colours and comics, while building confidence through the application of Ben-Day dots, text and dry-brushing techniques to create bold and visually impactful artworks.

Ms Chang

Artworks L to R , top to bottom:

Dean K, Lachlan L, Hayden K, Daniel K, Osborn W, Michael C, Curtis Q, Charles Q, Oliver K, Oliver L, Luke W, Orion D C, Zac X. Yug M, Sebastian M, Rayaan S.

Year 9 Visual Design

Year 9 Visual Design students have been exploring character design and visual storytelling, developing original characters through drawing, illustration and sequential imagery. Students have experimented with character traits, costume, colour, pose and expression to communicate personality and build engaging narratives.

Their final designs demonstrate a diverse range of imaginative characters and stories, with students drawing inspiration from manga, graphic novels, fantasy and popular culture. Through the project, students have developed their skills in visual communication while learning how designers use images to create distinctive characters and tell stories.

In the next unit of work students will explore architectural places and spaces, culminating in a model.

Ms Whalley

Design artworks above. L to R, top to bottom

Wenjun W, Richard Y, Markus G, Matthew G, Liam X, Jayden C, Jayden L, Austin Z, Oscar T.

Year 9 Visual Arts inspired by the Young Archies!

Year 9 have extended their skills in their artmaking practice by applying colour and a choice of expressive form to capture a sitter of their choice. Students were given the options to create a self-portrait or portray a family member, incorporating symbolic elements or colours to represent their sitter. Inspired by the portrait competition, students explored how artists can communicate personality, mood and identity through facial expression, colour and composition. Their portraits focus on capturing the sitter’s individual character and presence through expressive eyes, thoughtful expressions, soft natural light, warm skin tones and subtle details whilst incorporating their own stylistic contemporary approach. Students experimented with muted and atmospheric backgrounds, timeless clothing and expressive brushwork to create portraits with a personal and intimate quality.

Ms Chang

Artworks – L to R, top to bottom:

Riley J, Liam X, Ryan L, Eason W, Oliver S, Chris L, Ethan M, Oscar T, Caden Y,

Artworks below – L to R, top to bottom:

Sean L, Alex C, Eddy K, Kevin Q, Jacob S V E, Jayden L

Year 9 Photographic and Digital Media captures motion

Year 9 Photographic and Digital Media students have started this semester diving into motion photography. The class have been experimenting with capturing the human form in movement, even at high speeds while riding motorcycles. We've been working with a variety of different techniques to not only expand the repertoire of the boys but also deepen their understanding of the potential of camera techniques. This has also been an excellent exposure to how to push and extend existing observational skills with the camera without relying on post-production efforts such as Photoshop and Lightroom. I'm looking forward to seeing what the class can produce with this new technical knowledge

Julie Low

Photographer of the month- May and June

After being on hiatus due to the successful school musical production of the Pirates of Penzance, the Photographer of the Month contest has returned! We had several amazing entries from students across all year groups and the talent at Epping Boys High School remains exceedingly high. However, each month can only have one winner. In May, Dean K from Year 8 won for his stunning entry of a tree which fit the theme of "Nature." The level of intricate detail was truly impressive. Meanwhile in June, Nelson was chosen by me and Dean (as student judge) due to the stunning level of colour and contrast which fit the theme of "Light." Nelson will join me as the next student judge for August's theme, "Animals."

Julie Low

Music Co-Curricular

Term 3 is a very busy time for our Music Ensemble Program.

On Sunday 26 July, the Concert Band performed at the Australian Schools Band and Orchestra Festival (ASBOF) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. A rousing performance led by Mr Michael Tabrett resulted in a Silver Award. On the same day, the Senior Percussion Ensemble performed at the NSW Percussion Eisteddfod at Sydney Grammar School. Led by Mr Lachlan Skinner, this highly talented group of students achieved a Gold Award. Congratulations to all the students and staff involved.

Our focus now is the upcoming Annual Evening of Music, where all the ensembles will perform. Our 12 ensembles are busy rehearsing their pieces and we will have a great program, including a number of Year 12 HSC Music soloists and the Year 7 Massed Choir. This Epping Boys tradition is longstanding and the boys remember this singing experience for many years. Tickets can be booked through Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/DOFXLA limited number of tickets will also be available to purchase on the night.

Epping Boys High School Music Team

PAST HSC VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE – Where are they now?

Marcus Chang- Visual Arts class of 2025

Marcus’ Visual Arts journey at Epping Boys High School culminated in his Body of Work, Storm Brewing, an ambitious exploration of the power and duality of nature.

Inspired by the Romanticist paintings of J.M.W. Turner and Caspar David Friedrich, Marcus sought to recreate the dramatic and overwhelming atmosphere associated with the Romantic tradition. Through a combination of contemporary and traditional painting techniques, including finger painting, palette knives and chiaroscuro lighting, he explored the ever-changing relationship between beauty and destruction in seascapes.

Storm Brewing takes the viewer on a visual journey from the beauty and tranquillity of nature through to its immense and destructive force. Marcus aimed to create an experience that was both awe-inspiring and unsettling, drawing on the Romantic concept of the sublime while giving it a contemporary interpretation.

Since completing his studies at Epping Boys High School, Marcus has continued to explore his interests beyond the classroom. He is currently taking a gap year before considering a future career in the construction industry. We wish Marcus every success as he takes the next step in his journey.

Marcus’s Body of Work comprised of three large oil paintings on canvas.

Storm Brewing

2025

Painting

CAPA Showcase 2026

Louise Whalley

Head Teacher CAPA

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