Performing Arts
Music Matters
We hope everyone had a restful and refreshing break. This term promises to be another exciting chapter for our young musicians, with a wealth of performance opportunities on the horizon. Students will have the chance to showcase their talents both within the music classroom as part of the curriculum and beyond it, through our vibrant cocurricular program.
Ensemble rehearsals
All music ensemble rehearsals resume this week, as well as Junior Drama. Intermediate and Senior Drama rehearsals will resume in Week 2. Please ensure your son is punctual to his rehearsals and if unwell, his absence is logged into Clipboard. We greatly appreciate your assistance in these areas.
Private Tuition lessons will also resume this week
Please ask your son to check his emails for his lesson time. Timetables are also available outside the Band Room.
HSC Music Trials
Our HSC Music 1, Music 2 And Music Extension students have their Performance Trials on Friday 8 August in the Band Room, where they will present their entire HSC repertoire for external examiners. These students have a rehearsal day with their accompanists and teachers this Sunday, 27 July in the Band Room.
BAND ROOM ENTRY: Please note, there will be NO access to the Band Room from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm on Friday, 8 August (Week 3) due to the HSC Music Trials. Students can leave their instruments in the Music staff office if required during this time.
Elective Music Performance Showcase
Friday 8 August, 5:00 pm, Band Room
We are excited to invite you to the upcoming Elective Music Performance Showcase, where our talented elective music students from Years 9 – 11 will take the stage.
This concert is an important milestone in each student’s musical journey. It provides a platform to build performance confidence, explore a diverse range of repertoire, and gain valuable experience in a supportive, live setting. It also serves as a source of inspiration for future musical goals, both within the classroom and beyond.
Families, friends, and members of the College community are warmly encouraged to attend and support these developing musicians as they share the results of their hard work and creativity.
The College grounds will be open for parking.
We look forward to seeing you there!
James Fellowship
Our Leader of Learning, Drama, Ms Penny Lindley, and I had a fabulous time touring London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague as recipients of the 2025 James Fellowship for professional development.
We immersed ourselves in plays and musicals on London’s West End including Cabaret, Mrs Warren’s Profession, Hadestown, London Road, The Great Gatsby musical, The Other Woman, as well as Romeo and Juliet at The Globe and a fleeting visit to Oxford on our return from Stratford-upon-Avon. In Austria, we attended classical music concerts, enjoyed street performances, and visited an art exhibition at the Albertina featuring works by Picasso, Renoir, Monet, and Kandinsky.
We also took part in The Sound of Music tour, visited the fairy-tale medieval city of Cezky-Krumlov in the Czech Republic, experienced a jazz riverboat cruise in Prague, and numerous cathedrals and churches - fully immersing ourselves in the cultural magic Europe has to offer - all with the goal of determining what experiences would best suit our Performing Arts students.
We're excited to introduce a new Performing Arts Tour next year based on the insights we gained. More information on this will be available in coming few weeks.
Important Performing Arts dates this term:
HSC Music ensemble rehearsals – Sunday 27 July, Band Room
Australian Drumline Competition - Sunday 3 August, 10:00 am, PLC Croydon
HSC Music Trials – Friday 8 August, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Elective Music Showcase – Friday 8 August, 5:00 pm, Band Room
ICB - NSW State Band Championships (time TBC) - Sunday 24 August
HSC Major works showcase: Splinters, Splashes, Sounds, Snaps, Stage and Stories – Thursday 28 August – all welcome
Father's Day Mass and Breakfast - Friday 5 September
‘Farewell to Seniors’ Twilight Concert – Friday 5 September
Manly Jazz Festival – Senior Jazz Band - Saturday 20 September, 10:00 am -10:45 am (1st band on the Jazz Stars of The Future stage).
PAPA Comedy Fundraiser – Saturday 20 September
Elective Music SSO excursion (Years 9 – 11) Sydney Opera House - Thursday 25 September
Mrs Annabel Westhoff - Leader of Learning, Performing Arts
Drama Matters
Drama Ensemble
Junior Drama Ensemble begins in Week 1.
Senior & Intermediate Drama Ensembles begin in Week 2.
Ms Penny Lindley - Leader of Learning, Drama