Welcome back to Performing Arts for 2024

We have some very exciting things planned and look forward to being able to share them with our community.

Australian Music Examination Board

We would like to congratulate the following students who completed their Australian Music Examination Board Exams in Term 4 2023.

Johanna J Year 8 – Grade 1 Clarinet

Esha S Year 9 – Grade 3 Violin

Ayaana A Year 8 – Grade 3 Piano

Vinuka P Year 6 – Grade 2 Saxophone

Isabella S Year 7 – Grade 2 Clarinet

Jade S Year 8 – Grade 2 Piano

Private Music Tuition

Private music tuition has recommenced for the year and those students who have returned enrolment forms should have received communication from their teacher about their times for the first few weeks. We still have vacancies in music studios for enrolments, so if you are keen to re-enrol and have not yet returned a form or are keen to commence lessons then please organise to get a signed enrolment form to Antionette Seal before those vacancies get snapped up.

String Studio

Members of our String Studio and the Sayers String Ensemble and Junior String Ensemble will have a delayed start to the year due to unforeseen absence by Ms Sun. Everything is well and on track to start in Week 4, and confirmations of lesson and ensemble starting times will go out within the next two weeks.

Ensemble Rehearsal

Ensembles have recommenced in Week 2 with rehearsals already underway for concerts later in the year. Students who were in our Ensemble Program in 2023 will have received an invitation to continue their involvement and it is important that they let their Ensemble Director know of their intention to continue or discontinue as soon as possible so that we can plan effectively. Students who are not in an ensemble but who wish to be are encouraged to talk with their Instrumental/Vocal Music Teacher, their Classroom Music Teacher, or with Mrs Seal to find out what options there are for them to become involved.

Being a member of an ensemble is an excellent way of encouraging young musicians: it provides them with repertoire to prepare, opportunities to perform, challenges and development of new skills, and a wonderful social outlet. Students who are committed to our ensemble program and regularly attend rehearsals and concerts are eligible for a discount to their private music tuition fees.

SIS Big Night

Casey Grammar will, once again, be supporting the SIS Big Night alongside other SIS schools. This year’s concert will be held on 19 March at the Drum Theatre and should be a wonderful showcase of student ability. Selected students in the Senior School will be invited to participate and information about rehearsals will be coming out in the next week.

Puffs

The Performing Arts Department are very excited to announce a production for 2024: Puffs (or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic) by Matt Cox. This will be the first year that we have run a play as a senior school production and we are very excited to have rehearsals already underway. After the strong success of The Little Mermaid in 2023, we are looking forward to seeing what our young performers are able to bring to this fabulous show. More details to follow in a later newsletter.

(And for those who are worried about whether this impacts a production for 2025, please rest assured that we are planning ahead for an exciting musical next year!)

Stuart Collidge

Head of Performing Arts