Performing Arts
Music Matters
Open Day entertainment:
Current and prospective members of our school community enjoyed a wonderful showcase of musical talent at our Open Day on Saturday. Our musicians delivered entertaining performances throughout the day, highlighting the strength of our Performing Arts program.
A sincere thank you to our dedicated Ensemble Directors - Mr Geoff Power, Ms Laura Power, Mr Shane Cranney, Mr David Sismey, Mr Pawel Lewandowski and Dr JB Smith - for their leadership, and to Mr Andrew Saar for coordinating a full day of music.
We received many positive comments from visitors, with many budding musicians impressed by the breadth and quality of our cocurricular Performing Arts opportunities.
Congratulations and thank you to all the students who performed and helped make the day such a memorable occasion. Special thanks also to our wonderful PAPA committee and volunteers, who supported our Performing Arts community with their stall. Their generous time and invaluable advice to prospective parents and students are always greatly appreciated.
Concert Club, commencing Term 2:
We have organised a limited number of tickets to the following Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) concerts next term. These will be made available to Elective Music students in the first instance via Clipboard at an introductory subsidised rate, before being offered to our wider Performing Arts student body.
Students will need to be dropped to and from the Opera House by parents and will be supervised by a staff member throughout the concert. Dress is smart casual.
Concert #1
Friday 1 May – 7:00 pm – The Planets: Westlake and Holst
https://www.sydneysymphony.com/events/symphonic-cinema-the-planets
Perfect for: Year 10 Elective Music (work studied this term), Year 11 and 12 Music 2 students
Cost: $20
Purchase now through Clipboard:
Term 3:
Concert #2
Thursday 30 July - Sheku Hanneh-Mason – 7:00 pm
Perfect for: all Elective Music students
Cost: $20
Bookings open late Term 2
Concert #3
Thursday 3 September – Concerto for 2 Pianos – 7:00 pm
Perfect for: all Elective Music students, especially pianists
Bookings open early Term 3
Performing Arts Tour update and meeting:
We are safely on track to continue our Performing Arts Cultural Tour to the UK, Austria and Germany in June, via Singapore Airlines.
All touring students are asked to come to MR3 at Recess on Friday to organise tour shirts.
Cocurricular Photos this Friday morning, 20 March, for Music and Drama ensembles:
Students are to come at the start of the period for their corresponding ensemble.
Junior School students will remain on the main campus after assembly.
Period 1
Junior Concert Band (Larger)
Junior Drama
Junior Chorale
Bass Guitar Ensemble
Junior Digital Music
Intermediate Digital Music
Senior Digital Music
String Ensemble
String Quartet
Junior Jazz Band
Brass Quintet
Junior Percussion
Junior Guitar Ensemble
Period 2
Intermediate Concert Band (Larger)
Senior Concert Band
Intermediate Jazz Band
Senior Jazz Band
Intermediate Guitar Ensemble
Senior Guitar Ensemble
Senior Chorale
Intermediate Drama
Senior Drama
Rock Ensemble
Intermediate Percussion
Senior Percussion
Drumline
Live Production Crew
Upcoming dates Term 1:
Week 10 – Wednesday 1/4 – Year 12 Major Works Day #1 (including Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension assessment).
Holiday workshops
Here are some workshops your son may be interested in during the upcoming holidays:
Music – Song writing Workshop
https://aim.edu.au/whats-on/songwriting-school-holiday-workshop-sydney/
Date: Monday, 13 April 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Price: $30
Location: Australian Institute of Music, Nurses Walk, The Rocks
Drama: NIDA in Chatswood
https://www.open.nida.edu.au/course/nida-drama-school-grades-7-10/
Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Leader of Learning, Performing Arts
Drama Matters
Open Day
A huge thank you to the Drama students who supported our makeshift Drama Room in C3 on Saturday. They created a warm and welcoming space for all prospective parents and spoke confidently about the exciting work that happens in the Drama classroom. I was also impressed by the many student tour guides who enthusiastically recalled their Year 7 Drama lessons and greeted families with positivity and pride. Finally, a special shout‑out to the wonderful young people who jumped into the ‘hands‑on’ activities, eagerly slipping into character and posing for a photo behind our window.
Year 7: Improvisation, Creativity and Collaboration
Year 7 Drama students have been exploring the many possibilities of physical storytelling, using only their bodies to create imaginative characters, inanimate objects, and even iconic Sydney landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. This work is completed entirely without speaking, encouraging students to communicate through movement while developing strong skills in collaboration, focus and creativity. Well done to the students who demonstrated exceptional commitment during our class competition, earning merits for their House Teams. Photos of their wonderful work are included.
Upcoming Dates:
Elective Drama students will perform their assessments in Weeks 9 & 10 of Term 1
The IIiad at Sydney Theatre Company: 22 April (Term 2). Elective Drama students from Years 9-11 will attend the matinee performance of this timeless classic.
Ms Penny Lindley - Leader of Learning, Drama
PAPA News
Parents, carers and friends of the SPX Performing Arts community are warmly invited to attend an informal get-together at The Orchard Hotel, Chatswood in the Hideaway Room on Saturday 27 March from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Your first drink and a selection of light finger food are on us! Tickets are free, but please RSVP using this link for catering purposes: https://events.humanitix.com/papa-performing-arts-social-event
We hope to see you there!
Mrs Sylvia Ulevik - PAPA President