Performing Arts

PERFORMING ARTS

2019 has been a year filled with rich and dynamic performances from our talented Ave Maria College girls. Students from all year levels have challenged themselves and shared their immense musical and performance talents with their peers and the wider school community. The College’s Vocal Ensemble, Senior Rock Band and Soloists across Years 7 to 12 impressed the local community at the Moonee Valley Arts Show in March, where they performed a series of contemporary pieces to an eager audience. Ave Maria College shone at ‘Kickarts’ this year, where after weeks of rehearsals, our students delivered five incredible performances, with our Ave Maria College Drama Crew taking out first place in the acting category. The student’s talents continued to take centre stage at the Official Blessing and Opening of Helene Province, where senior singers presented an exquisite rendition of Ave Maria, complemented by performances from our Vocal Ensemble and soloists. Our invited guests were overwhelmed by the astounding talents of these groups. Of course, these are only a few of the performances we have seen this year, as our rich and diverse Performing Arts culture continues to flourish. Congratulations and thank you to all performers.

Olivia Pearce PERFORMING ARTS LEADER

DRAMA

“Action!!!!” Year 7 students demonstrated newly acquired skills of Mime and Commedia Dell’Arte this year, creating hilarious and engaging performances. At Year 8, students danced to the phenomenon of Bollywood inspired music, learnt from expert Bollywood dancers and choreographed their own amazing routines. They also interpreted a script for performance, producing an adaptation of Frankenstein. Our very enthusiastic and committed group of Year 9 students, who chose this elective, performed their own fairy tales, with music accompaniment, to an audience of children from Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School. At Year 10, learning about playwright Bertolt Brecht and his Epic Theatre for the people, the students devised ensemble performances that were eclectic in nature and ‘did not represent life as it is lived’. The VCE classes worked tirelessly on the development of characters in a range of performance styles. Ensembles explored the ‘Jack the Ripper’ story and solo performances tested the individual’s ability to manipulate expressive skills.

Mr Claude Ferrarese, Ms Suzanne Lake and Ms Olivia Pearce DRAMA STAFF

MUSIC

It has been another fantastic and busy year for Music at Ave Maria College. There have been numerous performance opportunities for our students, and another academically successful year for our VCE class. Students performed at numerous assemblies, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day breakfasts, Open Mornings and the Official Opening and Blessing of the Helene Province, just to list a few. Our VCE class also gave the very first performance to be held in the lovely Helene Atrium during Term 2; a wonderful occasion for all in attendance. Parents and friends also enjoyed the performances given at the Annual Arts and Technology Festival and the Year 9 Music Evening in Semester 2. My sincere thanks to all students involved in Music throughout this year, and to our instrumental tutors as well as Ms Kayla Sims and Mr Alex Brown for all the support of the students throughout the year. I would also like to thank Mr Christopher McLeod for his work during first term with the Ave girls. “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” – Plato

Craig Minty MUSIC TEACHER