Welcome back to 2022 and what will hopefully be a positive and exciting year ahead for the Performing Arts.
To start the year, we have some staffing changes within the faculty.
Mrs Rebecca Day has returned as Head of Faculty - thank you Ms Sandra Smith for being Acting Head of Department for the past 18 months. Ms Smith is still at BDC but is focussing on year 3 strings, the string ensembles in primary and secondary, and classroom music teaching.
Mrs Kate Freeman - Performing Arts Manager. This year we have added a new role to the team - Performing Arts Manager and we welcome Mrs Freeman to the College in this role. Kate will be teaching some primary performing arts classes but will also oversee the instrumental program. She will now be the person to contact with regards to instrumental lessons, instrument hire, music tutors, concerts and events. If you have any enquiries regarding music lessons at Bishop Druitt College, you can contact Kate on kfreeman@bdc.nsw.edu.au
String tuition - Just prior to students returning to school, we were given notice that Ms Annabelle Swainston would not be returning to teach violin. We thank Annabelle for her work at Bishop Druitt College and hope she enjoys her new role at the Conservatorium. Presently we are working on finding a new violin teacher so we are asking students and parents of our violin students to be patient while we find a suitable tutor.
Ms Bridget Bolliger - at the end of 2021 we farewelled Bridget from the College. Bridget relocated to the area and took up the position of teaching flute at the College. Unfortunately she has had to return to Sydney and we thank her for work at BDC. Mr Peter Morgan will be teaching the flute students in 2022
Ms Cathryn Burgess and Mr Santo Cimino - on leave Term 1 2022. Both Cathryn and Santo will be on leave in term 1. We look forward to welcoming them both back in term 2.
Looking forward, we are hoping that 2022 will be a more positive year for the arts with many of the covid restrictions being eased. We are excited to welcome face to face lessons for all instruments including voice, woodwind and brass back onto the college as well as full ensemble rehearsals across the campus. We are hoping to see many of our concerts and soirees back on the calendar and we look forward to welcoming parents back to the College for these events. We are already booking up performances for both primary and secondary assemblies and lunchtime concerts are planned to return as weekly performance opportunities as well. If there are any students who would like to be nominated to perform at these events, please come and see a staff member in the performing arts department. These performance opportunities are available for musicians, dancers and drama students.
The Dance program is further developing at the College which is exciting. At the end of 2021, Ms Hannah Johnson launched the Dance Academy and auditioned students in both primary and secondary for places within the academy. The process was very well received and academy positions have all been filled. Ms Johnson has some wonderful ideas and opportunities for our dancers for the year ahead.
Friends of Performing Arts (previously Friends of Music). This year we are hoping to reinvigorate the Friends of Music group, renamed as Friends of Performing Arts. Ms Kate Freeman will be the contact for this group and will send out details regarding meetings. If you wish to be involved in the Friends of Performing Arts group, please send Kate and email.
Upcoming events for your diary:
Rebecca Day
Head of Performing Arts
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