Encore

On Monday 24 February, Ms. Smith and Mrs. Day took students who are studying HSC Music courses to Sydney to see Encore at the Sydney Opera House. Encore is a showcase of exceptional performances across all HSC Music Courses from the 2024 cohort. The concert was inspiring for our students and it was great to see ex-BDC Jaclyn Wynne from Coffs Harbour Education Campus performing one of her pieces at this showcase with accompanist Mei Wei Lim.

Arts Captains - Camble Scott and Ella-Grace Chowdhury

Our Arts Captains, Camble Scott and Ella-Grace Chowdhury have been doing amazing things in the community and beyond for Performing Arts. Recently, Camble was invited to perform at the 2025 Coffs Harbour Music Society season launch. He performed with David Ellis and Music Society Vice President Robert Smallwood. You can see a video of his performance of Mozart’s Divertimento No. 2, K. 439b here. Well done, Camble. 

Ella-Grace was fortunate enough to travel to America in the holidays to represent Australia in Musical Theatre. She shared her experience with the Secondary Assembly on Friday 21st February. Please see her script below outlining her amazing opportunity. Well done Ella!

Hi Everyone, as you all know my name is Ella-Grace Chowdhury and I am one of your performing arts captains for 2025.

This January school holidays I was lucky enough to travel to the USA and represent Australia in musical theatre with 30 other people. On this once in a lifetime trip, we spent a week in New York City, sightseeing, seeing all of the iconic landmarks such as The Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, Times Square, Central Park and more. We were fortunate enough to attend several Broadway shows as well as attend a private Q and A with the cast of The Great Gatsby and also do a few workshops.

After our week in NYC, we then flew to Atlanta and attended The Atlanta Jr Theatre Festival where we performed a 15-minute version of Mean Girls Jr the musical. After our performance, we were so incredibly lucky to be awarded Excellence In Music. While in Atlanta I was also given the opportunity to audition for a summer camp in NYC next year which was organised last minute by our choreographer who wanted to push me into challenging myself more. This was quite intimidating as I walked into an audition room filled with over 200 people who knew choreography that I did not know well and that made me want to crawl in a ball and hide in the corner. I ended up learning the choreography in 2 minutes while watching everyone else go before me I stood at the front and gave it my all and all I can say is that I am so glad I didn’t hide, it ended up being one of the best opportunities I had ever received. After Atlanta, we then travelled to LA where we visited more major landmarks. Such as Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Disneyland California and Universal Studios.

On this trip, I made new best friends, figured out new strengths and weaknesses, learned new things, and got to live out my goals for the future.

This trip was everything and more that I could have ever dreamed of but none of it would have been possible without my support team. It was an amazing experience that will NEVER be forgotten and I am so incredibly grateful.

I just want to finish off by saying if you ever get presented with an opportunity big or small that could help you take the next steps forward toward your goals, dreams or even just for fun take it. Never let down an opportunity even if it is outside of your comfort zone and seems scary.

Thank you

High Performance Performing Arts Program

Congratulations to Matthew Healy (Year 10) who was inducted into the High Performance Performing Arts Program for Music at the Week 4 Secondary Assembly. Matthew is known to the College community for his amazing guitar technical ability and is being recognised for his talent, dedication and willingness to pursue his musical knowledge and understanding. Congratulations Matthew.

Year 3 String Program Semester 1

The current students in the Year 3 String Program are enjoying learning to play their violins or cellos with Ms. Smith. These students have been learning how to correctly hold their instruments and use their bow to play a range of pieces on the open strings.They are all doing a great job. Backing tracks have been shared for students to practice at home and show their families what they have learned.

Kindy Dance Academy

Dance Academy has begun! Our little Kindy dancers recently kicked off their dance journey with their very first class. Here's to many more dance adventures ahead! If you have any questions regarding our Dance Academy program, please contact Ms. Hannah Johnson.

Welcome Pru Borgert - Piano Teacher

One of our piano teachers, Bonnie Nilsson, is taking 4 weeks leave this term, travelling to China where she will be engaging in a range of musical opportunities with her partner Paul. During this time, we have a wonderful piano teacher, Ms. Pru Borgert, who will teach Bonnie’s students in her absence. Some of you may know Pru through her teaching at Bellingen High School or her involvement with the Bellingen Youth Orchestra. Pru was an accompanist and flute teacher at the College many years ago, so has a great connection with the College and many staff in the Performing Arts team. We welcome Pru and thank her for work with our students during Bonnie’s period of leave.

Armidale Youth Orchestra Camp

On Friday 28th February to Sunday 2nd March, the Armidale Youth Orchestra travelled to Sawtell where they participated in a weekend of music making. A number of Bishop Druitt College music students and staff attended the camp where they participated in rehearsals and a final concert on the Sunday for families and friends. Thank you to Ms. Smith for organising this opportunity for our students and leading tutorials over the weekend.

Coffs Harbour Eisteddfod

Entries for the Coffs Harbour Eisteddfod are now open. Teachers are entering groups into the schools sections and parents will be advised of dates, venues, costumes etc once finalised. Students are also encouraged to enter the solo sections across the various disciplines. Please visit the Eisteddfod website for more details: https://coffseisteddfod.org.au/

Felix Hughes Chivers

Congratulations to past student, Felix Hughes Chivers, who has been selected in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra Academy and will be touring Europe with the Australian Youth Orchestra in 2025. Felix currently studies viola under Imants Larsens at the Queensland Conservatorium, where he’s in his third year. He discovered his passion for the viola at age 11 and has since performed with ensembles like the Australian Youth Orchestra, ACO Academy, Queensland Youth Symphony (including its European tour at the Musikverein in Vienna), and more. An avid composer, Felix has written numerous works and earned accolades such as the Harmer Endowment Fund for Viola and the John Curro Viola Prize.

Secondary Assembly

Thank you to High Performance and Secondary Dance Academy student Zakiah Hibbard (Year 8) for her amazing Tap routine at the Week 4 Secondary Assembly

Rebecca Day
Head of Performing Arts