Performing Arts
Matilda’s Opening Night
It’s a big week this week with the opening night of the Haileybury Senior Musical.
Over the next four days and nights, Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical will come to life in Aikman Hall. There is even a special matinee performance on Saturday so our younger students can attend this wonderful production.
The curtain first goes up on Wednesday at 7.30 pm, followed by two more evening performances on Thursday and Friday and then our Saturday matinee show at 4.00 pm.
This terrific show will have each one of you believing in magic…book now before it sells out!
Nick Waxman
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Music
Anzac Day Commemorations
Anzac Day and the formal ceremony that acknowledges the sacrifice made by those who served their country is one of the most important days on the Australian calendar. Over the years, in this newsletter, I have often mentioned the vital role that music plays in community, not only for entertainment but for ceremony, celebration and loss.
The marking of Anzac Day is no exception and I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the buglers who performed the Last Post and Reveille at Anzac services across our Haileybury campuses in Melbourne.
Early last Monday morning, as part of a relatively new Anzac Day tradition, musicians across Australia took to their front yards and back verandahs to perform the Last Post and Rouse. Haileybury trumpet tutors, including myself, performed the duty at 6.00 am in remembrance of those fallen in the battle of war.
David Robinson, who is an Army reservist, video recorded himself at dawn performing the Last Post and Rouse. Well done, Mr Robinson.
Making Music for Matilda
For some Senior School Music Department staff the Easter break was a welcome opportunity to prepare for the Matilda ‘pit orchestra’.
The Senior School production has hired the professional orchestral scores used internationally for professional productions of Matilda and Music staff have enjoyed working together, with the scores providing a considerable professional challenge that the group has relished.
Matilda: The Musical opens this week and tickets are selling fast. It would be great to see as many families as possible in the audience.
Staff performing in the Matilda: The Musical orchestra are:
Musical Director/Conductor: Robert Latham
Bass Guitar: Ash de Neef
Cello: Myfanwy Bramble
Guitar: Anthony Spicer
Keyboard 1: David Dower
Keyboard 2: Alistair Smith
Percussion/Drums: Greg Ryan
Reed 1: Angela Mallia
Reed 2: Lionel Bailey
Trumpet 1: Tristan Rebien
Trumpet 2: Rod Marshall
Trombone: Wes Mowson
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
Visual Arts
Congratulations, Tarika
We are immensely proud of Tarika Wimalasuriya (Year 10) for winning the Secondary category in the Seen | Portrait Prize. Tarika’s winning surreal triple self-portrait was an astutely observed and sensitively rendered pencil drawing.
The art competition was judged by a panel of industry professionals and is organised by the City of Greater Dandenong to celebrate the vibrant culture and the local community through portraiture.
The Seen | Portrait Prize exhibition runs until Friday, 17 June at the Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre in Dandenong. See here for more information.
Last Days of Haileybury Koala Project Auction
The Haileybury Koala Project has created 23 large-scale koala sculptures that have been colourfully and creatively decorated by Haileybury students and leading Australian artists. In varying designs and colours, the koala sculptures are stunning pieces of art.
The two-week online auction is nearing its end, so don’t forget to place your bid on one of these amazing art pieces. Funds raised are going to the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF).
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
Pipes & Drums
Jessie’s Solo Success
It’s that time of year…the Victorian Solo Piping season has started and the first competition of the year was hosted by Haileybury Newlands on Saturday, 9 April. The Haileybury event is a favourite among the Victorian Pipers Association (VPA) and up to 50 pipers across several grades competed for the top prize.
Solo piping competitions run by the VPA are optional at the Pipes & Drums but we encourage students to take part to test their skills against their peers and to improve their performances on the solo stage. Solo competitions involve playing in front of a trained crowd and performing memorised sets of music for the judges. As you can imagine, tunes and techniques must be impeccably rehearsed.
However, this was no challenge for A Band piper, Jessie Sun (Year 9), who competed in three Novice categories against five other competitors. Jessie competed in the Novice 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel, and Piobaireachd and she won all three titles. Now, her efforts enable her to play up to the next grade—D grade—in the following competition.
Well done, Jessie!
Jessie Sun – Haileybury Solo Piping Competition 2022
Novice 2/4 March: 1st place
Novice Strathspey and Reel: 1st place
Novice Piobaireachd: 1st place
Lincoln Hilton
Director, Pipes & Drums
