Performing Arts
The curtain rises on another year of Haileybury Drama.
This term, the spotlight is on the Autumn Play, The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet. Students from across the Senior School gather each week at the City campus to rehearse this whimsical and comic retelling of Shakespeare’s classic. With drama studios overlooking Flagstaff Gardens and the city skyline, and under the guidance of Green Room Award-winning director and Artist-in-Residence, Mr Alister Smith, each workshop rehearsal offers students a rich and exciting creative experience.
A Romeo and Juliet theme continues throughout the year, with the cast of West Side Story returning to embrace the challenge and opportunity of this iconic musical. Singing in eight-part harmonies under the musical direction of Mr Robert Latham and mastering energising yet intricate mambo choreography with Mr Dylan Dickson, this production is shaping up to be one of our most ambitious to date.
There is even more to celebrate with the upcoming VCE Season of Excellence and Top Class. Congratulations to the Haileybury students selected to perform on Melbourne’s most prestigious stages. Ms Samantha Drury’s VCE Dance class has made Haileybury history, with a record-breaking five dance examination performances selected. We wish Lexi Perfect, Mia Seymour and Ashlyn Scott all the best for their performances of their skills based and composition solo pieces. In Drama, 2025 Drama Captain Simon Liu has also been selected for Top Class Drama.
We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to the possibility of seeing these outstanding performances presented live in Melbourne.
Nicole Smith
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Music
Celebrating Excellence in Music at Haileybury
I am delighted to begin the 2026 school year by celebrating an outstanding achievement by two exceptional Haileybury musicians. Andre Beyer and Raenav Datt have been invited to perform in the prestigious VCAA Top Class concert series, to be held later this term at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
The VCAA Top Class concerts showcase the very finest student performances from across Victoria, selected from the 2025 academic year by the VCAA examination panel.
Inclusion in this series represents the highest level of recognition, with students typically required to achieve the maximum possible score in their performance examination.
Andre and Raenav’s success reflects not only their dedication and artistry, but also the expert guidance of our instrumental staff. I warmly acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Sean McLeod (drum tutor) and David Dower (piano tutor), whose mentorship was instrumental in these remarkable results.
Large Ensemble Concerts Begin – Thursday 19 March
As the year gathers momentum, we are excited to launch our large ensemble concert calendar with the much-anticipated Twilight Concert on Thursday, 19 March. This relaxed outdoor event will take place in the Senior School Quadrangle, in front of Wings Café at Senior School Keysborough, from approximately 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm. Families are warmly invited to enjoy an evening of music, with light refreshments provided.
The program will feature Senior School ensembles performing a vibrant selection of pop-inspired repertoire, showcasing the energy and versatility of our young musicians.
Following the concert, the Drama Department will present the inaugural Autumn Play in Aikman Reverse Stage. A lively and comedic reimagining of Romeo & Juliet, the production highlights the impressive achievements of our drama students, developed under the direction of award-winning director Alister Smith through five intensive, multi-campus workshop sessions held at City.
We look forward to an inspiring year ahead across the Arts.
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
Visual Arts
The Creative Year begins!
Welcome back to what has already been a vibrant and energetic start to the 2026 school year in Visual Arts. Classrooms are alive with curiosity, experimentation and a willingness to take creative risks. Across Art, Design and Media, students are encountering new materials, processes and technologies, often for the first time, and learning to embrace the challenge that comes with that.
This is especially evident in our Year 9 students, who are developing the important skill of learning how to learn as they tackle complex digital software such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop and Illustrator. The initial learning curve can feel steep, but it is in this space of vulnerability, persistence and problem-solving that confidence grows and skills truly begin to develop.
Haileybury Young Archies Competition
We are also excited to share that all entries for the Young Archie Competition have now been received and are gathered at Keysborough, where the exhibition’s curation and design process is underway.
The exhibition will be held in the Senior School Gallery from 16–27 February, showcasing the creativity, enthusiasm and thoughtful perspectives of our students from age 5 to 18.
Winners will be announced on 17 February, with selected works progressing to the Young Archie competition in NSW.
While art competitions provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate student achievement, winning is never the only outcome. The process of reflecting on people closest to us, considering their impact on our lives, and exploring the power of representation and voice through art is equally valuable. The wider community is warmly invited to view the exhibition and gain insight into how our students see, think and respond to the world around them.
The Art Collective
Finally, a huge thank you to our Art Captains and the Art Collective leadership committee for running the first meeting of the year. It was a flurry of excitement, creative energy and big ideas, with students already planning activities for the upcoming Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year Quad Parties.
The Art Collective continues to provide a meaningful space for students to find like-minded peers, share their creative practice and contribute to the life of the school. Many more activities and opportunities are on the horizon, and students from Years 9–12 are warmly encouraged to get involved throughout the year.
We look forward to a year filled with creativity, growth and connection in Visual Arts.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
Pipes & Drums
The Pipes & Drums kicked off the year with our annual Band Camp, designed to prepare our students for the upcoming competition season, including the Victorian Championships in March and the biennial Australian Championships in April. This year, the band will travel to Perth to compete at the national level. Band Camp was a huge success, with record numbers in attendance.
The band has also been busy performing at a range of internal school events, including Founders Day and Honours Assemblies. The Brighton-based band featured as the musical item, with Year 9 drummer Ari performing an impressive solo alongside his tutor, Mr Templeton. Congratulations to Ari on an outstanding performance!
February is shaping up to be a jam-packed month for Pipes & Drums, with performances scheduled for the Pipes & Drums Gala, the Patterson River Fun Run, and the Founders Day cocktail party later this month.
In addition, Haileybury will host its annual Pipes & Drums competition in March at the Keysborough campus. This event brings together bands from across Victoria to compete and will take place on 15th March from 10.00am to 4.00pm. This is a free event, and all are warmly invited to attend and support our 3 Haileybury competition bands.
Daniel Staley
Director of Pipes & Drums
