Music and Drama Excursion to Moulin Rouge

Our overnight excursion to Sydney was extremely successful and the experience was enjoyed by all students. It is easy to underestimate the value of an experience like this. At least one of the students had never been to Sydney before and many had never attended a professional, live show. Also, for the majority of 9/10 students, this was the first overnight trip since their Year 7 Camp. So, there was much excitement among the students.

The performance of Moulin Rouge was spectacular and the students were spellbound! This was obviously the highlight of the trip. The students also had the opportunity to attend two tours/workshops/information sessions on this trip. On Wednesday afternoon, the students had a choice between the Sydney Theatre Company Wharves or the Conservatorium of Music. Both sessions were interesting and informative for the students, providing valuable insights into the opportunities available after leaving school. The students who attended Sydney Theatre Company were able to watch a rehearsal for ‘The Tempest’, while students at the Conservatorium learned valuable strategies for lyric writing, and in particular, how to write a successful chorus, which was presented by Keppie Coutts. The students who went to the Con were also captivated by a jazz ensemble with a stunning vocalist before boarding the bus. On Thursday morning, Drama students participated in an awesome workshop with the incredible Matilda Ridgway, who managed to bring all students out of their comfort zone through improvisation activities. The rest of the students went to JMC Academy where they were given a tour of the amazing facilities and received information about the courses on offer. Several of our students are extremely interested in some of the courses offered at JMC.

I would like to acknowledge Teagan Lomax for organising the drama activities for this excursion and for making the time to attend this excursion. It is difficult to be able to leave your young family at home to attend an overnight excursion. I would also like to thank Matt King and Matt O’Brien for their support and fantastic company on this trip. All staff worked as a team to provide the best opportunities and supervision of students on this excursion. The students were impeccably behaved and enjoyed the Sydney experience.

Ros Maher
CAPA Coordinator