Performing Arts

Important Dates

2025

Fri 31 Jan: Yr 7 Instrument Trial Day

Mon 3 Feb: Music Lessons start (Yr 8-12)

Popa Raffle Winners

CONGRATULATIONS to the following winners of the 2024 POPA Christmas Raffle!

1. Ben Pollock: Ziggy BBQ ‘Spice up your Life’ - Valued at $599

2. Roula Arv: Beach Cart Party Pack - Valued at $200

3. Angela Scheltinga: Happy Holiday Suitcases - Valued at $180

4. Laura Hoogkamer: Happy Cooking Cast Iron Pot – Valued at $130

5. Juanita Kimpton: A New Bike – Valued $130

6. Andrew Cox: Xmas Table Pack – Valued $102

7. Tracey Sutton: Xmas Pamper Pack – Valued $65

8. Leanne Westworth: Beach Towel Pack – Valued $60

9. Kirsty McAndrew: VIP Vehicle Maintenance Kit – Valued $30

Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket, together we raised over $2700. All proceeds go towards the Performing Arts program. 

A special thank you to the Parents of Performing Arts committee for their efforts in putting together this fun prize pool, and for all their fundraising efforts this year. Thank you to those who donated prizes.

Winners are selected randomly using Google Random Number selector.

Awards Night Performances

To celebrate the triumphs of 2024, our school community was treated to four uplifting performances from our Symphonic Band, Stage Band, Combined Choir and select Production cast. 

Year 9/10 Sound Production & Technology

In my Sound Production and Tech class, our class has been learning how to play instruments by creating a class band. Our band was called Silence In The Court. This came about by the need to call for silence before setting all our sound levels each time! With the utilisation of the school's theatre, we have been able to access a variety of high quality equipment to aid us in our instrument playing. Our band consists of Hayden Brooks and I operating the keyboards/pianos, Harry Langsford and Oscar Pamieta using the bass guitars, Josh Christoff and Lily Grob making use of the drums, Zahara Paulger and Sage Mogyorossy being our main Guitarists, Elissa Chen, Harrison Mitchell, and Sage being our singers and Sophie Jones on tambourine and our band manager. Our goal was to master how to set up our instruments and sounds efficiently and effectively while also learning how to play Ave Mary A by Pink and Whites Stripes by Seven Nation Army, ultimately leading to a recorded performance. Our main purpose is to prepareg our dynamic levels  so one instrument doesn't overpower another and can be equally heard by an audience. This has been so much fun to learn and something really different to all my other subjects. ~ Elijah

In sound production and tech we have recently explored band and live mixing, in which we have chosen to play the song “Ave Mary A” by Pink. I then decided to learn the bass guitar part to Seven Nation Army’s White stripes and the rest of the band joined in, so we performed and recorded both songs in the last class. My role in the class band is to do the main bit of the sound mixing and setup, along with being one of 2 bass guitarists. So I have to setup my amp as well as the foldback speakers, connecting vocals and keyboards to the PA while teaching others how to do sound production . Along with me the other student with prior knowledge on sound engineering in our theatre is Joshua Christoff, who is also on drums in the band. I think I have successfully learnt the notes and tempo I need for the songs as well as how to play with a band. Teaching other people has been a bit of an interesting task as I personally don't enjoy teaching to much but am inclined to if needed and so I believe I have become a much better teacher over the weeks and I will be able to take that out of this class and use it in many different places. ~ Harry

Beryl Birrell Retirement

After 40 years at Wantirna College, Beryl Birrell is retiring at the end of this year. As a result, an email account has been set up for anyone who would like to write a message to her in honour of the occasion. 

If you are a current student or staff member please take a few moments to write a personal message. Please email to:

BerylBirrellRetirement@gmail.com

Also, if you know of any ex-students or ex-staff members who were are the school from 1985 onwards, please pass on this message and email address to them and encourage them to also write something. We are sure she would love to hear from as many people as possible from her extensive time at this school. 

College & Community Band Concert

On Thu 5 December, Wantirna College hosted a College & Community Band Concert featuring the Wantirna College Concert Band, the Knox Wind Symphony, the Knox Concert Band and Boroondara Brass.

The Theatre was almost filled to capacity and, afterwards, the audience gave strong, positive feedback. Highlights included the efforts of the Wantirna College Concert band after only 8 weeks of rehearsing together, the incredible voice of Helena in Boroondara Brass and the donation of a Tuba to Wantirna College from Knox Wind Symphony as a token of thanks for the College's support of their band. It was an entertaining evening that we hope to repeat in 2025. Thank you to the Parents of Performing Arts for providing refreshments.

On the 5th of December, Wantirna College Concert Band, consisting of mainly year 7 and 8 students hosted a concert at Wantirna College for parents and community members to enjoy. At the start of the night the Community band Knox Wind Symphony played high level wind band music to begin the night of music with a bang. This was then followed by the school's Concert Band. We played amazingly as a combined band and we shocked the audience with our performance standard after only 8 rehearsals. Next up was Knox Concert Band which is a new band that has been created to cater for school leavers and people returning to music playing or playing a second instrument. The Boondarra brass band finished the night playing Christmas songs with a lead singer singing with the most beautiful voice I have ever heard and ending the night with the Incredibles theme, which was fun.  ~ Flynn, 7E

Danny van Bergen

Leader of Performing Arts