Senior Performing Arts

Music Camp 2025

Music Camp provided a wonderful three days of activities, intensive rehearsals and camaraderie.  Students from Years 7 to 12 worked together to develop some excellent ensemble playing in Orchestra, Concert Band, Stage Band and Chamber Strings.  We were joined by some of our visiting tutors Chris Perrin (trumpet) Neill Ryan (trombone, lower brass) Kimberley Pearson (woodwind) Angela d’Elia (violin) Ann Perrin (double bass) and Cassandra Key (percussion) who tutored sectional rehearsals for orchestra, concert band and stage band.  

Thank you also to our expert staff members Katie Sinclair, Lorraine Moxey, Joanne Lenton, Ben Yabsley-Bell and Luke Moxey who ran rehearsals and activities during camp; thank you also to our amazing Music Administrator Sharon Martin, assisted by Karina Oechsle, who managed logistics and kept everyone well fed.  Finally, thank you to our music leaders Anabelle van Wyk, Isabel Wong, Olivia Martin, Bonnie McPhee, Eli Cunningham, Emily Clunas and Amelia Reid who looked after their teams and helped behind the scenes to make Music Camp 2025 such a success.

All photos from Camerata are available for families on the HUB.

Chamber Choir Performance

Last Friday, our Chamber Choir performed at the opening ceremony for the NSW Health Family Skills Symposium hosted at the Remington Hotel in Orange. Their moving performance of My Love is Always Here (written by Alexandre Desplat for the 2010 Harry Potter Deathly Hallows movie) and Wide Open Spaces (by Canadian composer Sarah Quartel) was enthusiastically received by conference delegates, who appreciated the professionalism and quality of performance by the students. 

Congratulations to these students for their excellent performance in what has been a very busy term. We are looking forward to seeing them perform again at the Senior School Music Festival in June. 

Mrs Sinclair

Chamber Choir Director 

Matt Arthur and the Lazybones

Last Friday students in Years 7 -11 attended a concert by Matt Arthur and The Lazybones, a band who play a wide range of Blues and Rock repertoire.  Musicians in the band have many years of experience in the music industry, working with musicians including John Farnham, Air Supply, Tim Finn, Tina Arena, Vanessa Amarosi, Richard Clapton, Gene Simmons and Don Walker.

Their performance of Blues and Rock music aligned to outcomes from the Music syllabus and provided an entertaining way for students to learn about Blues and Rock from their inception to current trends.

The concert was followed by a workshop for Music Elective students which focused on developing performance techniques and stage presence.  Senior students performed for members of the band, who then offered advice on improving their performance skills.

Camerata Concert

The Performing Arts faculty had the pleasure of hosting Kinross Wolaroi’s annual Camerata Concert in the Performance Theatre Friday evening. The concert was an opportunity for our music students to showcase works they have been preparing, and they did not disappoint! Supported by the formidable piano accompanying skills of Mr Luke Moxey and Mrs Anne Stevens, the evening featured student performers from Years seven to twelve. 

Students delighted the audience, performing works spanning various genres and instruments to a very high quality. 

Thank you to Mrs Jo Lenton for her excellent organising of the evening.

Try Band 2025

Our TryBand program for 2025 has recently finished, with tutors impressed by the progress made by all students in the program. We strongly encourage these students to continue learning their instrument by signing up to individual instrumental lessons.  Please contact Mrs Sharon Martin at performingarts@kws.nsw.edu.au if you would like to enrol your child in instrumental lessons at KWS.

ANZAC Day

The Concert Band students will be marching in this year’s City of Orange ANZAC Day parade.  Further information has been emailed to families.

Stage Band at the Big Blast

Our Stage Band will be attending an intensive jazz band workshop at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre in Bathurst on Saturday 30 May. This workshop is run by Australian Jazz musicians led by John Morrison and Jacki Cooper. This workshop will provide students the opportunity to develop their skills in playing in different jazz styles. Further information has been sent to families.

Music Festival

Thursday 5 June 2025

Performing Arts students and staff are looking forward to this year’s Music Festival, which will be held in the DPA.  Families are invited to bring a picnic dinner and enjoy music provided by our ensembles and Year 12 Music students.  Further information will be communicated to families early next term.

AMEB Examinations

AMEB Exams are a great way to encourage your child’s musical development by creating a tangible goal to work towards each year. Exams are also an excellent performance opportunity that recognises a students’ progression and achievement through structured grades.

Enrolment requests for AMEB exams are due to tutors by Friday 2 May. Please speak with your instrumental teacher to find out whether you need to enrol your child for an AMEB instrumental exam. Exams will be held onsite at School, with exact dates to be confirmed closer to the time. Central West NSW dates are expected to be held between Monday July 28 and Wednesday 20 August 2025.

Aladdin

On Friday 4th, students in the musical were fortunate to meet and spend time with Madeleine Mackenzie who was a Swing Cast Member in the Australian touring production of Aladdin in 2016-2017. In addition to performing on stage, Madeleine was also the Dance and Fight Captain. In 2018-2019 she was also the Resident Choreographer for the same production. Madeleine has had an illustrious career on stage in many musical productions, so it was amazing to hear all about her time performing (especially in Aladdin) and was great to get some tips and tricks for performing on stage. 

Tickets for our production of Aladdin Jr. are now available for purchase through Orange Civic Theatre Box Office: 02 6393 8111 and Ticketek: Aladdin Jr tickets | Orange Civic Theatre | Ticketek Australia

Step into the magical world of Agrabah and join Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie for an unforgettable adventure filled with laughter, music, and magic. Don’t miss your chance to experience this spectacular production, based on the beloved Disney classic! 

Showtimes:

• Thursday 24 July - 7:30 pm
• Friday 25 July - 10:30 am & 7:30 pm
• Saturday 26 July – 7:30 pm