Careers in fine arts

As an elite contemporary dancer studying through VCA in Southbank, Natalie (Nat) Koch’s (2019) university routine is very different from that of a typical student. Discovering her passion for dance at 3 years of age, Nat has developed her talent over the years and is a high-achieving artist with skills covering tap and jazz, to ballet and more performative styles. Nat has had the opportunity to work alongside role models and stars in the field, such as renowned artist Phillip Adams who was awarded the Australian Council Award for Dance in 2018. Being in a supportive college community, Nat knows she can always rely on others when her schedule gets the best of her. The countless hours and effort is a testament to her commitment to achieve success.

Xanthe Lowe-

Brown (2019), is an academic all-rounder and passionate musician. Having picked up the piano early, and then the guitar in Grade 4, she loves the creativity and possibilities that music brings into her life. After having a speaker talk to her Year 12 cohort about her career as a Pediatric Neurologic Music Therapist at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Xanthe realised this career would combine her passion for music and helping people. The University of Melbourne is renowned for its Master in Music Therapy, and Xanthe is enjoying all of her subjects though there have been a few surprises “the contemporary guitar course has turned out not to be as contemporary as I thought! It has included Bach which I would not have expected, but it’s been great to expand my repertoire”. Xanthe is still determined to become a Music Therapist working either with children or in aged care. At 12 years of age,

Henny Walters

(2021) performed in her first professional musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Her favourite roles in the South Australian plays were Anne Frank in the 2017 production of The Diary of Anne Frank, and Helen Keller in the production of The Miracle Worker. For these shows, Henny was nominated for awards multiple times, including: The Curtain Call Best Young Actor award, the Adelaide Critics Circle Emerging Artist of the Year Award Adelaide, and Best Youth Female Actor Award and the Adelaide Theatre Guide’s Best Female Young Performer. After studying a year of Law and Journalism in Adelaide, Henny was so excited to be accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Moving to Melbourne, and joining a bustling arts hub has been a highlight, in particular performing in Chess the Musical with Henny’s university company.

Endrico Botha

(2019) dedicates himself to acting and drama through the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), with a full load of 40 plus hours per week. Endrico hopes to connect with industry professionals and expand his performance skills after his formal VCA degree. He was also lead in the 2019 College play, Be More Chill.

Tom Sporne at the 2021 Graduate Art Show