The Year in Review

A Year of Creativity, Leadership, and Outstanding Achievement

This year has been a whirlwind of artistic exploration and accomplishment for our CAPA students, marked by exciting performances, inspiring excursions, and renewed opportunities for leadership and collaboration.

Showcasing Talent Across the Creative and Performing Arts

Students across Drama, Music, and Visual Arts have enjoyed numerous opportunities to showcase their talents throughout the year, with standout events including Drama Night, An Evening of Music, the Art Exhibition, the Community Concert and Speech Day at the Town Hall. These occasions truly celebrated the remarkable creativity and skill flourishing within our school community.

The revitalised CAPA Promotional Team, led by CAPA captains Siddhant R (Drama), Jarrell Y and Wen Z (Music Co-Captains), and Eric J (Visual Arts), and supported by a dedicated CAPA crew and CAPA staff, drove inspiring projects, made valuable contributions to major CAPA events and nurtured creativity across the school.

Several of our talented CAPA HSC students were nominated for possible inclusion in the NSW HSC Showcases. In Visual Arts, Jasper Y's, Marcus C's, Eric J's, and Joseph L's, Body of Works earned nominations for 'ARTEXPRESS'. Jasper’s work received final selection and will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW, the 'ARTEXPRESS' Virtual Galleries, as well as regional galleries in Wagga Wagga and Hawkesbury in 2026. In Drama, Dillon B, Korben P, Ethan L, Lachlan G, and Muhammad A, were nominated for 'Onstage' in recognition of their outstanding individual and group performances. In Music, Wen Z was nominated for potential inclusion in ENCORE for his recital on marimba and vibraphone. Additionally, Ethan Chan’s outstanding composition has also been nominated for possible inclusion, further highlighting the impressive calibre of our students’ musical achievements. We were very proud of these students.

Visual Arts beyond the Classroom

Our Visual Arts students embarked on enriching excursions and incursions this year, including visits to the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery of NSW. Year 12 students engaged in workshops to critically unpack contemporary art, preparing for HSC challenges, while Year 11 explored the expressive human form through interactive exhibitions such as Cai Fei’s visionary “My City is Yours,” blending cyber aesthetics, fantasy, and pop culture. Highlighting the relevance of technology and creativity, the digital workshops encouraged students to imagine the future of human interaction with art. In addition, the return visit by alumni artists Andrew and Chris Yee offered students unique insight into multidisciplinary art careers, inspiring them with real-world perspectives and fostering connections beyond school walls.

Drama Developments: Workshops, Performances, and Inspiration

Our Drama students embraced both tradition and innovation. Year 7 stretched their creativity with mime and improvisation, while Year 9 launched into a refreshed program focused on film and international themes. Year 12 students had the privilege of attending intensive devising workshops at the Seymour Centre and enjoyed a special evening watching the high-calibre Onstage 2024 performances, strengthening their skills and fuelling their passion. A standout cultural experience was the Year 9 and Year 8 Drama students’ excursion to Illume, a stunning Bangarra Dance Company production at the Sydney Opera House. This immersive performance deepened their appreciation of Indigenous storytelling and physical theatre.

Musical Excellence and International Collaboration

Our music ensembles reached new heights with performances ranging from local community events to international stages. The combined bands and orchestras of Epping Boys High and Cheltenham Girls High School toured New Zealand, delivering unforgettable concerts that celebrated cross-school collaboration and musical excellence. Individual achievements were notable as well: Wen Z’s selection to perform solo at the prestigious, 'Festival of Instrumental Music' at the Sydney Opera House spotlighted our students’ exceptional talent, while the Senior Percussion Ensemble’s first prize at the Sydney Eisteddfod reflected the quality and dedication of our music co-curricular program.

Community Engagement and Celebrations

Our CAPA Crew contributed to Multicultural Day teaching cultural dances to Year 7 students, fostering inclusivity and school spirit. The Photographer of the Month competition continued, showcasing students’ varied perspectives and encouraging creativity in photo media. Art Club were challenged to a Mo-Art competition with some interesting visual perspectives on moustaches. One of our youngest Art Club members clocked up 20 sessions and earnt himself an Art Club badge.

Mo-Art winners:

1st SiyuanX on the left

2nd Sivanish C on the right

3rd Darren B (not in the photo)

Boyu A, recieving his Art Club Badge

Our Music Ensemble Program has concluded with a number of significant performances to end the year. Our Speech Day program of music included the Concert Band playing "You're the Voice", farewelling our long-time conductor, Christine Pringle. The Orchestra, Intermediate and Senior Percussion Ensembles, Stage Band and Vocal Ensemble (including staff singers) all showcased the quality that the school is well renowned for.

The String Orchestra also performed beautifully at Royal North Shore Hospital Festival of Music, our 9th year of participation at this event. There were many positive comments from the staff and visitors to the hospital.

As we come to the end of 2025, we can reflect on what has been a very busy and eventful time for all our music Ensembles. We thank every student and his family for their commitment to the Music Program, with early morning, lunchtime and after school rehearsals. Your hard work, individual lessons and practice at home all come together to produce a high-quality music program that we are all very proud of.

This would not be possible without the dedication of our amazing music teachers, Michael Tabrett, Antony Mutch and Pearl Hendy, Administration Officer Helen Sinclair, along with our other Ensemble Directors, Mike Kenny, Christine Pringle, Lachlan Skinner, Melissa Kenny and Ben Giles.

Spotlight On Year 9

Year 9 Visual Design students explored one-point and two-point perspective by designing interior and exterior places and spaces. In their designs, the criteria required students to overlap, intercept and layer roads, bridges and architectural structures inspired by M.C. Escher, who explored the concepts of infinity and impossible geometry.

Ms. Chang

Left to right, top to bottom:

Aiden T., Oliver N., Lucas G.,

Daniel O., Hector L., Austin H.

Year 9 Photographic and Digital Media students extended their photography skills by developing a portfolio. They were introduced to architectural compositional techniques and learned to use Photoshop to create colour splash edits. Students then explored abstract architectural photography inspired by Helene Binet. As an extension task, they experimented with additional Photoshop tools to creatively blend elements of nature with urban environments.

Ms Chang

Top to bottom, left to right: Zane Q, Riian Z, Darnell S, Damon W, Enoch I

Left to right: Lynus L, Solomon H, Divyesh N.

Year 9 Visual Arts investigated how perspective and pattern can transform ordinary spaces around the school into imaginative, illusionistic worlds. Drawing inspiration from M.C. Escher’s intricate representations of space, students produced lino prints or black and white ink drawings that explored visual paradox, symmetry, pattern and transformation. They then manipulated their drawing/print through cutting and layering to create a paper weaving or a collage that explored the effects of positive and negative space. Some students also experimented with Chine-Collé when printing.

Mrs Whalley & Ms Tillstrand

Lino prints, left to right, top to bottom: Aariv S, Kosta B, Daniel K., Jing Wei A, Harsh S, Rodger X.

Black pen and ink drawings, left to right, top to bottom: Zachary T, Kevin W, Ethan Y, Owais B, Ollie C, Aiden Chai Fung L.

Black pen and ink drawings of imagined places, left to right: Lachlan Y, Daniel O.

Manipulated images using paper weaving, Chine-Collé, collage, left to right, top to bottom: Aayan Syed, Zachary T, Isaac D, Luke G, Ethan Y, Hayden K.

Forward Momentum

With a busy Term 3 behind us, filled with Drama Night, Evening of Music, the Art Exhibition, HSC showcases, and community concerts, the CAPA KLA remains a thriving hub of artistic passion and achievement. We eagerly anticipate the School Musical, Pirates of Penzance, where overwhelming student interest promises a spectacular production in partnership with Cheltenham and Riverside Girls High Schools in 2026.

Our heartfelt thanks to all students, staff, and supporters who have contributed to an outstanding year in CAPA at Epping Boys High School. We look forward to building on this momentum with more creativity, leadership, and celebration in the year ahead.

Stay tuned—there’s still much more to come in 2026!

Louise Whalley

Head Teacher CAPA

Administration

Happy Holidays from Epping Boys!