What a busy start it has been to Term 3 with Performing Arts students showcasing a high standard of performances across multiple events this term. This is also a pivotal time for our HSC students as they prepare their major works for assessment by NESA this term. Good luck to all of our Year 12 students in Dance, Drama and Music with their final preparations and thank you to all of the staff who have supported them along their journey. Our first students to be assessed by NESA will be Dance on the 14th and 15th of August, followed by Drama Practical assessments on 1st September. Music dates are still to be announced.

Seen Yas on Show

On Thursday 20th July, the school held our annual Seen Yas on Show event. This is a showcase of Major Works from a range of HSC subjects. The evening concluded with a concert in the theatre featuring Dance, Drama and Music 1 performances as well as excerpts from English Extension works. Thank you to all of the Performing Arts students who performed. It was an excellent representation of the standard of our HSC performances in the arts faculty. Also, a big thank you to our new Arts Captains, Ella Butler and Lily Hibbard who did a wonderful job MCing the event.

Subject Info Evening and World Options Showcase

Last Wednesday, our subject selection evening for World Options (Stage 5) and Stage 6 courses were held in the Branson Centre. The Performing Arts area was abuzz with interest across all subjects in the faculty at both sessions which was wonderful. Thank you to the Stage 5 students who stayed and performed at the end of the information session. Students from Dance, Drama and Music World Options courses presented performances to an audience to showcase the works that were developed within the relevant subject areas. The performances were of a high standard and thank you to Ella Butler, our Arts Captain, for introducing the items at the concert. If there are any students who still have questions regarding subject selections within the Performing Arts faculty, please speak to one of the staff or send an email.

Australian Honours Ensemble Program

Congratulations to Julius Taylor (8), Amelie Howard (9), Olivia Hoare (10) and Camble Scott (10) who have been successful in gaining positions in the upcoming Australian Honours Ensemble Program (AHEP) from Wednesday 27th September to Saturday 30 September. The students will travel to Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University where they will work with QLD Conservatorium academic specialist staff in an instrument-specific environment. Students may also be asked to perform, or work on exercises/skill-building techniques to support their individual learning.

This program is a wonderful opportunity for music students to work in an intensive environment of musical excellence with their peers as well as a team of eminent internationally recognised Conductors from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

To be considered for the program, students must be a minimum Grade 6 AMEB on their instrument and submit an audition. 

Congratulations to these students on their successful applications.

Michael Dolce visit

On Thursday 20th July, the college welcomed Michael Dolce from The Voice back to BDC for a series of masterclasses. Michael visited the college last year and was impressed with the musical talent within the school and the student engagement in his workshop, so volunteered to come back again. The HSC Music students participated in a masterclass on some of their HSC Major Works, where Michael provided some great ideas for additions to their performance pieces. In the afternoon session, he completed a guitar masterclass, building on the knowledge of improvisation from the session in 2022. The students had a great session with Michael and he is already looking at potential dates to return in 2024.

Leadership Induction service

Thank you to Highly Strung and the Primary Performance Choir for their beautiful music at the Leadership Induction Service at the beginning of term. The Choir item of “Together We Can Change The World” by Mark Shepard was beautifully sung as was the communion music from Highly Strung. Thank you to Mrs Caesar, Ms Muelenbroeks and Ms Smith for all of their work with these ensembles.

New High Performance Program inductees

Congratulations to our Semester 2 inductees into the High Performance Performing Arts program: Katie Hodgson (Dance), Tim Hardman (Music) and Zoya Dryburgh (Music). These students were formally acknowledged at the first secondary assembly for the term.

Assembly Performances

Thank you to all of the students who have performed at the assemblies so far this term. The roster for performance this term is almost full, so if there are any students wanting to perform this term, please come and see Mrs Caesar soon.

Dance

There have been some exciting opportunities for our dance students this term.

Kindy Dance Academy
Kindy Academy has started again and is working towards a performance. This term, classes are Mondays before school, beginning at 8:10 am. 

Secondary Dance Academy
Secondary Dance Academy students have been developing their choreography and teaching skills as they work with primary classes towards content for the EYE festival.

Primary Dance Academy
The Primary Dance Academy are participating in workshops with choreographer Teo Ross, exploring Jazz and Musical Theatre dance this term. 

HSC Dance Showcase Evening

Last Friday evening, the HSC Dance students  presented their major works in a concert for family and friends in the Theatre. Performances, compositions and film works were presented and the standard was incredibly high. Thank you to all of the students in younger years who assisted the year 12s by learning their compositions or dancing in films. Amazing work. Good luck to the students in their HSC exams which will be held on the 14th and 15th August and thank you to Ms Hannah Johnson for all of her work preparing these students.

Japanese Visiting School

Thank you to Zitong Lin who performed on Friday 28th July for our visiting Japanese students. Zitong played a beautiful Bach piece on the piano at the start of the official welcoming ceremony. 

Quad Jams

Thank you to Tim Hardman, Ella Grace-Chowdhury and Olivia Gruber-Styles for being the first students to perform at Quad Jams this term. The pieces were well received by students and staff in the Greenroom. 

Our next Quad Jam session will be Friday week 4 where the Secondary Jazz Band will be performing.

Performing Arts Awards Evening

This year, BDC will be holding our first Performing Arts Awards Evening to recognise the efforts and commitment of students within the Performing Arts faculty. The evening will be held on Thursday 9th November in the Branson Centre and will consist of a range of performances and awards. More information regarding the event will be provided as we get closer however we are currently seeking help from the BDC community through sponsorship and donations.

At the event, we will be presenting a number of trophies and awards to students in the Performing Arts. We are therefore seeking sponsorship for these awards. If you are interested in sponsoring an award, please contact either myself or Ms Rachel Caesar for further details on the type of sponsorship and cost. 

We are also seeking donations for raffle prizes so if you own a business or know of a business that may be willing to supply donations, we would love to hear from you as well.

This will be an amazing showcase evening of our talented students and will become an annual event on the college Calendar.

Music Tutor Spotlight - Louise Wilson

This term, we have been fortunate enough to welcome another talented music tutor to our instrumental team at the college - Ms Louise Wilson. Please read her bio below and if you are interested in learning from Louise, please come and speak to one of the Performing Arts team.

Hello, I’m Mrs Louise Wilson, a new voice and piano teacher at BDC. I am married with 3 adult children and one beautiful grandson. My husband and I own Old Mate’s Burgers which is where you’ll find me when I’m not teaching.

I have been singing, writing songs and making music my whole life and spent the past 16 years as a Primary Music Specialist Teacher with the NSW Department of Education. In this role I had the privilege of teaching thousands of students through music, dance, drama and singing with many in-school performances, whole school concerts, eisteddfods and community performances. Highlights of my time with the Department of Education include starting a school concert band and taking groups of students to perform at the Sydney Opera House and Schools Spectacular. I also co-directed the Bongil Bongil Community of Schools Musicales in 2013 and 2016 and in 2019 was awarded a grant to coordinate and lead a week-long combined schools Music and Dance Festival involving 350 students from 13 local schools. Needless to say, I LOVE music and the performing arts and I especially love working with children and giving them an opportunity to discover and develop the gifts and talents within.

I currently teach privately through my music school ‘Find Your Song’ and am actively involved in the music team at my local church. 

I am very excited to be joining the BDC team and continue helping children develop their confidence and experience the joy that making music brings.

Yours in music,

Louise

Rebecca Day
Head of Performing Arts