It is the final week of a short and very busy term, and it is great to reflect on all that has been achieved in such a short time frame. With performances at Commencement, Founders Day, Scholars assembly, the Senior Ensembles Concert and the Senior School Musical opening, it has been all go. Energy levels have been high, exhaustion a bit real, but the total joy surrounding outcomes has been palpable.
David Rubenstein, Chairman of the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, is quoted as saying ‘The world is a complicated place, and there’s a lot of division between people. The performing arts tend to unify people in a way nothing else does.’ The staff in this department are witness to that unity each week, with students performing together, supporting and encouraging each other and finding joy in their creative expression. The world certainly is very complicated, yet the harmony within our space seems so simple to achieve.
This year we will be sending a number of our students and ensembles to perform at Sackville Grange. This connection has been welcomed by both the community there and our Carey music staff and student musicians. It is a wonderful opportunity to perform in a supportive environment. Year 11 and 12 IB singers Conor, Bridie, Matteo, Pacey, Eliza, Lachlan and Jordan were the first group to perform there (pictured above), presenting songs from both the musical theatre and jazz genres. They were accompanied on a beautiful grand piano by Alicia Bendall and Christine Luo. The residents appreciated the song selection and enjoyed some time speaking with the students. What great ambassadors for the School they were!
As we head into the holidays, preparation is under way for Generations in Jazz, Autumn Music Camp and a combined workshop and concert with Eltham High School. This is the first time we have taken the bands back to Generations in Jazz since prior to COVID and we are really looking forward to being back in Mt Gambier and hearing great performances from both the other school bands and the featured artists. Autumn Music Camp will no doubt be a great weekend of music making with so much being achieved through the focussed attention (I am also rather partial to the desserts that are served at Rutherford Park, but sadly will miss out on that opportunity this year). And of course, our Middle School Musical intensive will begin in the holidays with a very excited cast ready to learn the new songs and dance routines.
As we negotiate these last few days of term, the Performing Arts department send their love and thoughts to Bec, Milo, Hugo and Evie. The loss of former Head of Performing Arts at Carey, Nick Mulder, has been deeply felt by all of us. As a staff we are committed to honouring his memory through continuing to offer authentic and engaging Performing Arts experiences. His legacy for always encouraging students to be the best they could be will be reflected in the Nick Mulder Bursary, which will be awarded each year to a student with a keen interest in jazz. Vale Nick Mulder – thank you for the music.
Sally Davis
Head of Performing Arts
