Performing Arts News

2024 has been quite a year! Performing Arts students have been filling the rehearsal rooms each day as they prepare for the many concerts, assemblies, soirees and classroom assessments.

We have one more concert to go and this is our Christmas Concert on the Green in the performing Arts area. This exciting concert will be held on Tuesday, December 5th from 5.00 -6.00pm. Everyone is welcome and we ask you to bring your best singing voice to join in with the carols.

Years 9 & 10 Concert- November 13th

Years 9 and 10 performed to many parents and friends in The Potato Shed.

This concert was the culmination of the semester’s practical classes. Ms Doble and I were very proud of our talented students; for some, this was their very first public performance.

Public Speaking Recital -November 23rd

Ms Nikki Zhao was very proud of her students as they recited their works to their parents/carers, friends and teachers. With Corio Bay in the distance, the second floor of the Loyola centre was the perfect setting for this recital. Maybe a College Captain or a Prime Minister is in the making? We are very sad to say goodbye to Ms Zhao and wish her all the best in her future work in Melbourne.

Piano/ Strings and Percussion on the Green- November 20th

Thankfully at 6pm the sun came out and it was a beautiful Evening on the Green for the piano, string and percussion students. Students performed a range of works -from Mozart to Heavy Rock to the many parents and friends. A big thankyou to our teachers Mrs Sally Turner, Mr Sam Patterson and Mrs Rebecca Cowled for their dedication to our students.

Year 7 Showcase-November 27th

The Year 7 music staff were all very enthusiastic as they witnessed the ultimate musical progress of the young year 7 performers as they performed their works to parents and friends in our MPC.

Bands Coordinator, Mr Michael Wilding, ran a tight ship and certainly came up with a very entertaining concert. Thanks to the selected soloists who entertained the guests between band items and to the year 7 music staff, Mrs Wilding, Mr Neal, Mrs Hobbs, Ms Bourke and Ms Ling who have tutored our students to such a good standard of playing.

Year 9 Drama Performance-November 23rd

The Year 9 Drama students have been working consistently on a special project throughout term four, titled “Theatre in Education.” This assessment task required the students to devise a play with a clear message for a younger audience. The students brainstormed ideas, then developed the plot, wrote the script and choreographed/directed the production. Music was chosen to accompany certain scenes. They exhibited outstanding collaboration skills throughout the lengthy process to perfect the modernised production of “Goldie” based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

We invited the Grade 1/2s from St Thomas’ Primary to the production on Thursday 23rd November at the Potato Shed. The primary students participated in the action and the verdict, as the play was designed to be interactive with the audience.

The students and staff enjoyed the performance immensely: there was laughter, tension, clapping and lovely reactions to many aspects of the play.

After the performance, there was a Q and A session where the audience asked many and varied questions, which reflected they had heeded the message of “Do Not Steal” or there will be consequences! We had very positive feedback from the St Thomas teachers who also enjoyed the performance and apparently the Grade 1/2s were talking excitedly about the play when they returned to school.

I was so proud of the Drama students who were very resourceful for their costumes and props; their acting and improvisation skills were outstanding. I felt like I was working with Year 11 students rather than Year 9s, as they were so creative and skilled. The best aspect of developing and performing “Goldie” was that the students had so much fun and lots of laughs during the process.

Congratulations to Hayden Brown, Sienna Davidson, Hannah Dreise, Frey King, Billi Lucas, Perry Nicholls, Jasmine Smith, Mia Spurigan and Grace Vapp for all their efforts. They are all encouraged to further develop their talents by choosing Theatre Studies next year.

I have really enjoyed my time with these awesome students this term.

Ms Penny King, Year 9 Drama Teacher

Instrumental Music & Public Speaking Lessons.

If you are interested in your child commencing private Music or Public Speaking lessons, please go onto operoo and fill out the form.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or concerns.

I thank all our Performing Arts staff and Instrumental music teachers for their wonderful work with our students. I also thank our site and infrastructure manager, Mr Brent Balboni and his amazing team, for their assistance with all our performances.

I wish everyone a very happy and holy Christmas and look forward to seeing you at our many performances for 2024.

Regards,

Linda Pape | Head of Performance