Performing Arts Festival Week Five and Angelico Exhibition

Week Five proved to be one of the busiest on the Arts Calendar and Holy Cross College was very well represented and successful across a number of Catholic Arts Events.

The week commenced with the Junior School Choir travelling in full voice to St Benedict’s Parish Church in Applecross for the Primary Sacred Choral section of the Festival. The students sang their hearts out and performed College favourite ‘My Lighthouse’ along with the beautiful ‘Take These Wings’ for a captive audience. Special thanks to John Topliss and Pearse Topliss, Mrs Kerri Sloper and Linda Ridden for assisting with accompaniment and to Mrs Vanja Basell for giving up her time to support the choir in this performance.

On Tuesday 20 August, the annual Angelico Exhibition was held at the Forrest Centre in the Perth CBD and Holy Cross was represented through artworks created by Zane Garbutt (Year Six), Leah Frisina (Year Nine) and Samara Edwards (Year Nine). All pieces were allocated Highly Commended Awards and special congratulations to Zane Garbutt whose stunning painting was awarded the prestigious Forest Chase Tenant’s Award. A fantastic achievement for Zane and congratulations to all Holy Cross College students involved. It was incredible to see the level of artwork on display. Big thanks to Mrs Sharon Andrews for co-ordinating Holy Cross’ participation in the Angelico Exhibition this year and for her tireless support and encouragement of the Visual Art students.

Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 August saw Middle School students participate in the Woodwind Solo and Classical Guitar Solo sections at Zenith Music in Claremont. Sheridan Spencer (Year Seven) and Declan Watts (Year Eight) provided spirited performances on Flute and Jiraphat Phaenglaennoan (Year Eight) performed to a high standard on Classical Acoustic Guitar. All three students represented the College with pride!

A busy and successful week wrapped on Thursday 22 August with 45 students from Junior, Middle and Senior School travelling to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre to participate in Primary and Secondary Dance. One of the biggest sections of the festival, a rehearsal took place during the day during which both groups fine tuned their performances on the large Convention Centre stage prior to the evening performance. The excitement was definitely infectious, with many students performing at the venue for the first time!

The evening performance was one of the biggest the College has ever seen at the Performing Arts Festival with thousands of students, parents and school community members descending on the Convention Centre. Holy Cross lined up along 23 other performances and was treated to an amazing display of talent. The Holy Cross students from Years One through to Year Twelve dazzled! The Junior School dancers performed ‘Deja Vu’, a homage to film trailers and movie magic wth colourful costumes and a nostalgic tribute to Aladdin and the Lion King. The Middle and Senior School students performed ‘See You Soon’ a poignant presentation centred around army wives dealing with the cost of war and receiving letters from the front line. Both groups were sensational and huge thank you to Miss Georgina Pratt for her time, energy and dedication and to Miss Hannah Sibbald and Miss Aoife Hickey for their support.

It was fantastic to see a number of staff attending the event and special thanks to Ms Mandy Connor for her support of the event. It was a fantastic evening of talent and one in which Holy Cross hopes to participate many more times in the future.

Upcoming Performances: Week 7

Monday 2 September: Electric Guitar Solo @ Zenith Music, Claremont
Tuesday 3 and Thursday 5 September: Secondary Piano Solo @ Zenith Music Claremont and Secondary Solo Drama @ Servite College, Tuart Hill
Wednesday 4 September: Secondary Choral @ Trinity College, East Perth

Mr Chris McRae
Learning Area Co-ordinator (The Arts)