Performing Arts
Auditions open for Mamma Mia!
Please visit the Productions Page to find out how to audition for the 2025 Years 9–12 musical. There is also a video explaining how to get involved, who can audition and what the process is like.
Youth Ambassador
Frankie (Year 10) has been recognised by Melbourne Theatre Company as Youth Ambassador. She has spent the year watching amazing shows, meeting fellow thespians, engaging with professional creatives and learning the world of MTC behind –the scenes. This exceptional program is by application and only a select few are chosen from across Victoria. Below is Frankie’s reflection on the program.
"My experience so far as a Melbourne Theatre Company Youth Ambassador has been absolutely incredible. We have seen so many amazing performances over the year, met with many inspiring actors and the many wonderfully talented people who work backstage to make theatre possible. I have been fortunate to have seen the age-old classic A Streetcar Named Desire, the jaw dropping and heart racing Topdog/Underdog, the thought provoking and empowering Julia, and the heart wrenching, emotional roller coaster of Cost of Living. Every single actor we have seen on stage has been incredible, transporting the audience from our normal lives into the world of theatre.
Being a youth ambassador has been such an invaluable opportunity, and I am so grateful that I was selected to be one. I have learnt so much from the incredible people at the Melbourne Theatre Company, especially from all the many people who are working backstage to ensure everything is running safely, smoothly and creatively. I now know all about gobos (a stencil for light), how to follow cues on a script like a stage manager and how stages revolve even when they have a full plumbing system attached to the working shower on stage. I am also grateful for Nick Tranter, the learning manager from the MTC, for his never-ending support and determination to ensure that we make the most of this experience, as well as the other Youth Ambassadors who have made this year so much fun. I have been fortunate this year, and I’m sad that this great opportunity is coming to an end soon but have made many memories and learned so much about the world on and off the stage that I will take with me for the rest of my life."
Spring Challenge
On Sunday 20 October, more than 100 Dance students from Years 5 and 6 travelled to Doncaster Secondary College to compete in the 2024 Dance Star Spring Challenge.
Haileybury enjoyed a wonderful day competing and having fun and the students deserve much praise for training hard in the lead-up to the competition and for giving their all on stage with outstanding performances.
Congratulations to our incredible Years 5 and 6 dancers, who achieved the following results:
- Newlands Primary Jazz Small Team (Hit Me Up) – 4th place
- Newlands Primary Jazz Small Team (Nicest Kids in Town) – 3rd place
- Newlands Primary Hip Hop Large Team (Do You Wanna Dance?) – 1st place
- Castlefield Primary Jazz Small Team (Queen) – 2nd place
- Castlefield Primary Hip Hop Small Team (Boss Squad) – 2nd place
- Castlefield Primary Lyrical Large Team (Safe and Sound) – 1st place
- Castlefield Primary Jazz Large Team (Come Alive) – 2nd place
- City Primary Lyrical Large Team (Still) – 2nd place
- City Primary Jazz Large Team (Bongo Cha Cha Cha) – 1st place
- Edrington Primary Lyrical Large Team (Déjà vu) – 3rd place
- Edrington Primary Jazz Large Team (The Monsters) – 3rd place
Thank you to all our students, coaches and coordinators for a wonderful competition at the 2024 Haileybury Dance Gala which was held on Wednesday 13 November in Aikman Hall.
Nick Waxman
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Music
The fortnight just passed has been yet another busy time within the Haileybury Music Department. At the Senior School level, Music students completed their final VCE Unit 4 Music written exams. Following on from performance recital assessments that were completed at the beginning of the term, the written examinations are comprehensive tests that covers three key aspects of music theory: analysis of recorded music, aural perception and music notation. I wish the Unit 4 students all the very best as they await their results that are to be released on 12 December.
At the other end of the music education journey, Junior School students enthusiastically performed at three major string concerts held in Aikman Hall. Exciting and highly energised events, these concerts provide for students to perform in large-scale concerts, often after just ten months of instrumental instruction. The wide-ranging facial expressions on the young performers is something to witness as they walk onto the stage under concert lighting for the first time. Over 600 students performed across the series.
In Middle School, concert bands, choirs and string orchestras have been busily preparing for upcoming Celebration of Excellence (Speech Night) performances. Always enjoying capacity audiences, Celebration of Excellence are an exciting opportunity for our Middle School musicians to finish the year performing proudly to the Chairman of the School Council, Mr Scott and the official party and, of course, to parents and peers.
The Celebration of Excellence series concludes on Wednesday 11 December when Haileybury’s most academically recognized students attend their final awards ceremony as graduated Year 12 students. At the Senior School Celebration of Excellence, a selection of VCE music performances will entertain the audience.
The Music Department’s final performance for the year, Haileybury Carols, is set to take place on 12 December at St Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of Melbourne. It would be wonderful to see as many families as possible attend and celebrate the season of Christmas in a non-religious, culturally diverse end to the school year.
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
Visual Arts
Conclusion of Examinations
As we conclude the examination period for our Years 9 to 12 Art, Design and Media students, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the significance of their hard work and the invaluable skills they have developed throughout the year. This time of challenge and celebration has allowed our students to showcase not only their artistic talents but also their sophisticated analytical and critical thinking abilities.
Throughout the year, our students engaged deeply with the process of writing about art, design, and media. This was not merely an academic exercise; it was an enriching journey that enabled them to explore a myriad of concepts, historical contexts and contemporary issues. They honed their ability to articulate complex ideas with clarity and insight, developing a nuanced understanding of how art shapes, and is shaped by, society. By critically analysing artworks and evaluating the intentions of artists, designers and media producers, they gained a broader perspective of the cultural landscape.
The skills our students cultivated extended far beyond the classroom. In today’s rapidly changing world, the ability to think critically, innovate and adapt is paramount. The cognitive aptitude they developed through their studies equips them for future leadership roles and entrepreneurial endeavours. Employers increasingly value creativity as a core competency, recognising that those who can think outside the box are often the ones who drive progress and solve complex problems.
During the examination period, our students demonstrated their growth as thinkers and creators. They applied the depth of understanding they had built over the year, showcasing their ability to synthesise information, engage in reflective practice, and express their unique perspectives. This vital part of their educational journey fostered confidence and ownership in their learning.
As parents and members of our school community, your support throughout this process was crucial. Many students embraced this challenge with resilience, reminded that the skills they cultivate will serve them well in their future pursuits. Whether they aspire to be artists, designers, filmmakers, or innovators in any field, the creativity, resilience and analytical prowess they developed this year will undoubtedly set them apart.
We are incredibly proud of our students’ dedication and hard work during their exams. Their passion for art and design, coupled with their commitment to excellence, exemplified the spirit of our school community and an environment that fosters creativity and critical thinking.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
Pipes & Drums
This month marks a significant change for the Haileybury Pipes & Drums, as we say goodbye to our Director, Mr Lincoln Hilton, who has moved interstate to be closer to family. As Lincoln’s time at Haileybury comes to an end, we take a moment to reflect on and acknowledge the enormous success of the Pipes & Drums under his leadership. We wish Lincoln all the very best as he begins this new chapter of his life.
In addition to these exciting changes taking place, our Pipes & Drums students have been busy performing at many events across our campuses including the highly anticipated ‘Back To’ assemblies, and preparations have also commenced for our involvement in upcoming Remembrance Day Services.
Term 4 also marks the graduation of eight of our senior bagpipers and drummers including Pipe Major/Captain of Pipes, Ruby ; Captain of Drums, William ; Bagpipers, Hudson , Isabella , Kriya and Charlie ; and Drummers, Charlie and Tyson . We thank them for their unwavering commitment to the Pipes & Drums over many years and wish them well with their future endeavours.
Daniel Staley
Acting Director, Pipes & Drums
