Performing Arts and Languages News

Music

Future orchestral stars join Tasmanian Youth Orchestra 

Congratulations to St Mary's College students, Madeleine Ambrose (Year 12), Alice Lennon (Year 11), Arabella Butterworth-Barry (Year 11), Orlaithe Dhue (Year 9), Ai-nhi Nelson (Year 8), Eowyn Hindmarsh (Year 7) and Henrietta Butterworth-Barry (Year 6), who have been accepted into Tasmanian Youth Orchestra (TYO) this year. 

Being selected for the TYO is a significant achievement, offering students the chance to further their instrumental skills, collaborate with professional musicians and perform in prestigious settings. This accomplishment reflects their dedication and highlights the strong presence of St Mary’s students in Tasmania’s music community. 

Meet our new Arts and Culture Prefect | Lucy McKenna (Year 12) 

I’m Lucy, and I’m thrilled to be your Arts and Culture Prefect this year. I’m very passionate about visual and performing arts and am keen to foster this culture within the school.

I’ve been involved in musical theatre since I was nine and love to draw and craft in my spare time. I’m very active in the local theatre community – you may have seen me in 'Anything Goes' this summer, where I got to sing while being lifted into the air, or as Wednesday Addams, or a dancing cat!

At St Mary’s, I’ve participated in all the school musicals, taken a wide range of arts subjects and entered visual art competitions. Participating in the arts at school is a great way to connect and form strong bonds with peers across all year levels and improve wellbeing. I find so much joy in the arts and would love to encourage others to get involved and find a creative outlet that inspires them, whether you’re an experienced performer, an aspiring artist, or simply someone who appreciates creativity. I look forward to hearing your ideas and creating art with the SMC community in 2025!

Year 5 begin orchestral instrument journey 

In its third year, the Year 5 Orchestral Instruments Program has officially started for 2025, providing St Mary’s College students with an instrument to play for three years in Music class. This exciting initiative allows students to explore music, enhance cognitive abilities, improve memory and encourage teamwork. Check out more on this in the following video by Australian neuromusicologist Dr Anita Collins.

Individual lessons are also available to all students through the Music Instrumental Portal in Connect, and applications for the Harp Fellowship are still open. There are music ensemble groups available every lunch, so please visit us in Music, or check out Connect for more information. 

Why singing together feels like magic | Mrs Mary Heferen-Faulkner, Junior School Music Teacher 

I recently attended two workshops led by Dr James Cuskelly and Ms Rose Wilson. The topic was singing. This included the power of singing as a group, the brain’s cognitive engagement while we are singing, and the ability we all have when listening, echoing and singing songs. We also discussed the auditory processing needed to recognise pitch direction, patterns, rhythm and beat. We can even ‘hear’ a song without singing out loud. Think of a favourite song. Can you sing it in your head? Can you work out the highest sound, any repetition, clap the rhythm and tap the beat? These music skills are some of the most complex cognitive activities the brain can undertake, and we all do this from an early age.

When we sing, we feel a connection with each other. Our brain lights up like fireworks as all the neural pathways communicate. Our listening skills, language skills and social skills all continue to develop and improve with song.

Your challenge for the week? Sing.

Languages 

Language, friendship and gelato! | Halina Dadswell-Booth, Year 12 TASC3 Italian student

Ciao! In November 2024, I participated in an exchange to Italy for just over a month. It was an amazing experience where I learned so much. I stayed with a family in Riva Del Garda, in the Trentino region in the north of Italy, located by a beautiful lake. During my stay, I attended school with my host sister, Cristina, at her local liceo (high school), Andrea Maffei. I met some incredible people and learned more about Italian culture and language. I also discovered that I didn’t like attending school on Saturdays, especially for a six-period day! 

The highlight of my trip was probably all the friends I made and the unique places we visited, including Venice. I loved spending the day in Venice among the winding canals and exploring the little alleyways. In Riva Del Garda, I tried gelato for the first time and had many Italian Christmas dishes that Cristina’s nonna (grandmother) cooked. It was such a memorable experience and one that I recommend to anyone if you have the opportunity to go.

Each year, students who study Italian at St Mary's College have the opportunity to host a student from Italy for six weeks in June/July and, in return, travel to Italy in November of the same year to stay with the family of the Italian student. For more information on our Italian exchange program, contact your child's Languages teacher. 

Adventure awaits on the 2026 Italy Study Tour

Italian and History students in Years 9-12 in 2026 have the opportunity to join a two-week study tour to Italy! This immersive experience will allow students to explore Italy's rich history, culture and language while engaging in educational activities, short exchanges and sightseeing.

The tour will include visits to iconic landmarks, cultural sites and local schools, providing a unique chance to learn firsthand about Italy's heritage. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of Italian culture and improve their language skills in a real-world setting.

Expression of interest forms are still available for a short time and should be returned to Prof. Paola Keller, Prof. Michael Power or Mrs Sonia O’Leary. A meeting will be held in Term 1, Week 8 for parents, carers and students. 

Download a copy of the expression of interest form at the link below. 

Drama 

An update from Maggie Robinson, Year 12 Theatre Performance student 

Last Friday, the Drama 3 and Theatre Performance 3 classes went to see Second Echo Ensemble’s radical remastering of French composer Erik Satie’s 20th-century Dadaist ballet, Relâche: The Last Dance on Earth, at the Odeon Theatre. The ensemble, consisting of around 50 people of varying physical and intellectual abilities, celebrated the performance’s core message of self-determination and the beauty of choosing your own path, no matter what hardships you’ve faced.

The avant-garde experience pushed the boundaries of performance with its irregular plot, blending themes of modern dance, Dadaist performance art and the nostalgic silent film era. The show delved into controversial societal themes such as cancel culture, personal agency and absurdity, as well as the taboo elements of theatrical performance.

Relâche, which translates to 'Theatre Closed' in English, conveniently links to Satie’s obscene and provocative original ballet that inspired the play. It returns to the socially inappropriate perception of the theatre as a place where the imagination can run wild and the body is in an unrestrained form. The senior Drama classes' viewing of this piece will be significant as they work towards crafting their mid-year productions, which will be performed in the upcoming months.

As the Drama 3 class works on a devised piece of theatre, focusing on a local political issue, recurring motifs inspired from Relâche may be useful in incorporating a complex and slightly unconventional take on political pressures. Likewise, the Theatre Performance class are well underway with their upcoming major production which will be announced in a few short weeks. With an irregular plot, similar to the recently viewed Relâche, the senior performance homes in on the relevant social issues of female pressure, competition and inbuilt stereotypes. After viewing this absurd piece of abstract theatre, there is no doubt that the performers will re-enter the rehearsal space with a newfound sense of wonder and physical experimentation to bring to the theatrical dinner table.

Congratulations to Year 8 student, Sydney Howlett for her stunning performance in the show! 

Future stages | Phoebe Wiss | Year 11 Drama 3 student 

"Future Stages is an acting program run by the Theatre Royal for young inspiring actors and those looking to pursue a career in the performing arts industry. During the program in 2024, I was lucky enough to participate in workshops with professional artists, watch a variety of theatrical productions, attend backstage tours and so much more. This opportunity gave me confidence and insight into the performing arts industry, as well as offering information about the many pathways available." 

Future Stage is a free program for students in Years 10–12. Applications are closing soon so head to 2025 Theatre Royal Future Stages | Theatre Royal to find out more or to apply.