About Academy

Performing Arts - Department Overview

Performing ArtsThe philosophy of the Performing Arts at the Academy has been to give students the opportunity to use their creative skills and to encourage them to succeed their ambition in Music, Drama and Dance.

Just as children learn skills in reading, numeracy, physical co-ordination and computing, so they learn musical skills, such as listening, composing and performing. This allows them to understand how music works and how they can begin to participate in performing throughout their secondary education.

Extra curricular programs that involve attending weekly rehearsals, extra tuition and examinations provide opportunities for students to develop a high level of skills and to work in a wide range of performance situations up to a VCE level.

Creating, making and presentation means working as a team and at the Academy student and staff work as a team, from our instrumental teachers, our parents and our talented students.

Showcasing and exposing these talents in the Performing Arts at the College include performances in:

  • Music at College Masses

  • School Assemblies

  • Year 7 Twilight Concerts

  • College Musical

  • Music Camp

  • Participation in the Melbourne School Band Festival

  • Mission Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral

  • Carols by Candle light at School

Instrumental Music

  • Flute, Piano, Guitar, Brass, Strings, Percussion and Voice Soirées
  • Music Staff Concert

  • Lunchtime Concerts

  • VCE Performing Arts Concerts

  • Instrumental Soirées

Performing Arts Staff and Students

The 2009 Performing Arts staff include:

  • Allan Hessey - Head of Performing Arts, Classroom Music, Brass Teacher, Symphonic Band, Director, Jazz Band Director, Music Director

  • Jane Erwin - Classroom Music, Rehearsal Pianist

  • Laura McDonald - Classroom Music, Cantor Director

  • Kate Kennedy - Dance, Drama, Dance Team Supervisor

  • Melanie Malakunas - Drama

  • Mr Paul Van Ross - Woodwind

  • Helen Kerr Lawley - Chamber Choir

  • Adrian Whitehead - Saxophone

  • Justin Debrincat - Percussion

  • Evelyn Bergman - Strings, String Ensemble Director

  • Jessica Barlow – Voice

  • Loraine Grainger-Brown – Piano

  • Eddie Von Guzman - Guitar

The Performing Arts Department relies on talented instrumental music staff that show, commitment and professionalism in their lessons. They have been of enormous benefit to the students and have contributed in no small measure to the overall success of the department.

The Instrumental / Performing Arts program at the Academy of Mary Immaculate involves a vast range of dedicated students involved in the following ensembles:

2009 Ensembles

  • College Symphonic Band

  • Jazz Band

  • College Cantors

  • String Ensemble

  • Training Band

  • Dance Club

  • Chamber Choir

  • Production Team

Allan Hessey
Head of Performing Arts

MUSIC

"Music is essentially an aural art form, which can also involve bodily movement and the senses of touch and sight. To satisfy this art form students in Year 7 will use both musical instruments and voice to compose, improvise, perform, listen and respond to their own music and that of others.

Students will recall and utilise knowledge and skills gained in previous music experiences. They explore some of the expressive qualities of sound as they recreate the work of others and improvise and compose musical statements in response to a stimulus"

 

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