Marist College Ashgrove Newsletter

Co-curricular Arts News

Dr Andrew Butt, Program Leader - Co-curricular Arts

Jersey Boys

We could not be more pleased with the fantastic response from our production of Jersey Boys. Since last week we have been inundated with positive feedback from across the state and even from overseas with Old Boy Nick Hollamby, who is currently Head of Musical Theatre at the Institute of the Arts in Barcelona, contacting us to congratulate the cast on a fantastic production. Thanks so much to everybody involved for making our production such a success. Jersey Boys was the culmination of thousands of hours of combined work for a cast that only first came together in late January. Since that time they have done many things including memorising lines, learning new melodies, harmonies, dance routines, light and audio cues, and creating digital and painted sets. For many of them, for the very first time. The art form of the musical is one that allowed us to come together as a community, to work hard, to take risks, to uncover hidden talents, to create lasting friendships and in the end create some magic in front of a room of peers, friends, family, and total strangers. I trust that the experience is one that the cast will cherish for a lifetime.

 

This show was put together by a dedicated team of front and back of house ensemble members and staff. I’d like to give special thanks to Music Director - Michael Keen; Director - Carly Wilson; Backstage, Props and Costumes Coordinator - Rebecca Taylor; Technical Manager -  Jack Johnson; Sound Designer - Steve Thornely and Lighting Designer - Sebastian Harmon for their dedicated expertise. There were also many staff who generously gave their time on top of their usual co-curricular and curricular activities. Thanks to Megan Harmston, Samantha Blakeney, Rowan Dekkers, Melanie Stewart, Taylah Ferguson, Alex Hides, Denver Jensen, Christine Larsen and Stacey Finch. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support of our College’s Leadership Team and our colleagues at Mt St Michael’s College and the Stuartholme School. I would like to thank them for enabling this production to take place and i am hopeful that this partnership in musical production will continue to flourish successfully into the future. 

 

May Ensembles Concert

Congratulations to all the boys who performed in the May Ensembles Concert last week. It was very encouraging to see the beginner and intermediate ensembles show so much promise across a variety of settings and genres. We look forward to their continued successful journey in the performing arts program at the College.

 

Studio Concerts 

TUESDAY MAY 28, 3:30PM | DRANEY THEATRE AND MUSIC CENTRE 

These intimate concerts will give our piano, guitar, brass, woodwind, string, percussion, and vocal students an opportunity to share their solo recital skills in a relaxed and supportive environment.

 

Admission: Free 

Semester 1 Concert Celebration 

THURSDAY MAY 30, 6:30pm | DRANEY THEATRE 

This concert will present the College’s premier ensembles in the centrepiece of the Performing and Visual Arts Centre (PVAC), the Molly and Len Draney Theatre. Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Strings, Wind Orchestra 1, Guitar Orchestra 1, Big Band 1 and Chamber Choir will all feature in a concert of outstanding music making. If you only make one concert this year, this is a must. 

 

Bookings: 

https://events.humanitix.com/semester-1-concert-celebration-2024

 

Year 5 Band and Strings Concert 

THURSDAY JUNE 13 | DRANEY THEATRE

Come along and hear Marist’s musical stars of the future. Featuring all students from the Year 5 cohort in their world debut performance.

 

Bookings: