Performing Arts
Performing Arts Co-Curricular Program
Creative Music in Schools
We are delighted to be welcoming a new teacher from Creative Music in School. His name is Sebastian Zuluaga, and he will be offering lessons in singing, keyboard, guitar, and drums. Students are welcome to attend a free workshop to meet Sebastian on Tuesday 28 March at lunchtime in Music 2. New students will commence lessons from Term 2 and expression of interest forms can be obtained at the workshop for any time from the Performing Arts Office. Forms lodged with the Performing Arts Office before the end of term will receive a 10% discount on Term 2 fees.
Performing Arts Ensembles
We are excited to announce the formation of a Drama Club. The Drama Club meets each Thursday at lunch and is open to all. We thank our Drama Teachers, Ms Desmond and Ms Shepherd, for running the Club, and we are looking forward to seeing performances as the group becomes established. New members are welcome.
The Marian Choir United performed 'I Surrender All' as part of the Investiture Assembly earlier this month. They are now working on a piece called 'An Easter Hallelujah' in support of the upcoming Easter Liturgy, and they will start rehearsing pieces for the Showcase Concerts from next week.
The Concert Band has welcomed some new members and are also preparing pieces for the upcoming Showcase Concerts to be held next term. The main work is an arrangement of 'When the Saints come Marching In', a work that can be played by new and more experienced members together.
The Senior Rock Band are continuing to meet and rehearse, and we look forward to their performance debut next term.
And last, but not least, we finish with an item that features our Play Ukelele! Club, penned by its students leaders - Nikki Khumba and Claire Oram.
Play Ukulele is a fun and inclusive club available for anyone to join as long as they are interested in playing ukulele and willing to dedicate a bit of time for practice.
Nikki Kihumba: As the leader, it is important that I make sure each new member is able to practice in their own time, and help them out with things they may find difficult. I guide the group with warmups at the start of each rehearsal and fill in those that are absent with what we’ve done while they were away.
Claire Oram: As the mentor of Play Ukulele, I carry out some duties similar to our leader Nikki, but tend to look more at the pieces we play. If there’s a song we want to learn, but there’s not a suitable piece already made for ukulele, I can compose or adjust already existing pieces. I also help new members in learning the instrument and am happy to help those who would like more of a challenge in their playing.
On O'day, we had lots of fun! There were quite a few signups, and we also played happy birthday to those who had recent or upcoming birthdays, including teachers! The following Tuesday, we also had four new members come in and we began to teach them the basics of playing the Ukulele, starting off with the C Major scale picking and chords.
Our challenge piece this semester is the popular Canon in D major. This piece is grouped into three sections, two of which are plucking using tablature, and the other is playing chords. This piece is being done by our older members or those with previous experience playing ukulele.
Newer members are focusing on ‘Here Comes The Sun’ which was recommended by Charlotte Aukuso. It’s a great choice as it introduces new members to commonly used chords and easy fingerpicking patterns.
If any of you found interest in learning the Ukulele, and you don’t know how to start, you’re always welcome to join the Ukulele club! We run rehearsals every Tuesday at lunchtime in Music 2. Feel free to send a direct message to either of us on Seqta if you have any queries! Hope to see some new faces soon!!
-Nikki Kihumba & Claire Oram
Mari Eleanor
Co-Ordinator