Responsibility, gratitude and commitment: the future of our Performing Arts

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing a group of Performing Arts students for leadership positions. A common theme throughout the interviews was the genuine passion they have for the many activities and opportunities within the department. When discussing why leadership in the Performing Arts space was important to them, one student offered a particularly thoughtful response. They explained that it was important to continue investing in and advocating for the program so that younger students coming through would have access to the same opportunities and experiences they themselves had enjoyed. This sentiment reflected a strong sense of responsibility, gratitude and commitment to the future of our Performing Arts community.

I look forward very much to working with Gabby, Jack, Kate, Hamish, Jackson, Ophelia, Claire and Ben next year as they bring their energy and commitment to the Performing Arts space.

Term 3 saw nine of our ensembles participate in the Victorian School Music Festival, one of the highlights of the year for our music groups. While awards are presented, ensembles are adjudicated against the program they have selected, making the festival a valuable opportunity for students to perform and receive expert feedback. In addition to the outstanding musical performances delivered by our ensembles, we were incredibly proud of the way our students represented the school throughout the festival. They were focussed, wore their uniforms with pride, responded thoughtfully to the adjudicators and, most importantly, conveyed their joy of music-making in every performance.

Ensemble results are ranked from Bronze through to Platinum, and we are delighted to share the following achievements:

• Symphony Orchestra: Platinum
• Wind Symphony: Platinum
• Symphonic Band: Platinum
• Concert Band: Gold
• Wind Band: Platinum
• Big Band: Platinum
• Stage Band: Platinum
• Beginner Band: Yamaha Participation Award
• Musique Du Coeur: Silver

These results are a testament not only to the musical excellence of our ensembles, but also to the dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm of our students and staff throughout the year. We congratulate all involved on their outstanding achievements.

We look forward to seeing our community after the holidays, with Jazz in the Quad, Twilight Concert, the Middle School Play and so much more to still look forward to.

Sally Davis
Head of Performing Arts