Arts

Performing Arts

Haileybury Theatre Program recognised at Lyrebirds and Guilds

On 8 December 2024, during the ceremony for the Youth Lyrebird Awards at Bunjil Place, Haileybury was recognised throughout the event for our great year of theatre. This recognition is a celebration of the time, dedication and creativity the students and staff bring to the shows. We could not be prouder of what we have achieved together. Over 130 students gave their time and energy to these works and thousands of audience members came out to watch.

These are the awards we won:

• Best Production  
• Best Ensemble
• Best Dramatic Performance: Samuel (Year 11)
• Highly Commended Performer: Alexis (Year 11)
• Best Director: Nick Waxman, Nicole Smith, Candice Anderson, Emma Maggio
• Best Sound: Nicole Smith and Erica D’Angelo
• Best Lighting: Nicole Smith, Mathew Sanderson and Nick Waxman
• Best Ensemble Member: Ben (Year 12)
• Best Performance in a Supporting Role: Alexis (Year 11)
• Special Award for original and creative artwork design

It was incredible seeing Addams Family and a First Nations work being recognised throughout the event. Many people commented on how excellent it was that Haileybury was doing this kind of important work (and at such a high level).

OTHER nominations include:

• Best Set: Nick Waxman with Christina Logan-Bell
• Best Costume: Nicole Smith
• Outstanding Partnership: Simon (Year 11) and Samuel (Year 11)
• Highly Commended Performer: Holly (Year 12)
• Best Sound: Gerard Hook
• Best Lighting: Matthew Sanderson and Nick Waxman
• Outstanding Youth Dancer: Braya Jade (Year 11)
• Outstanding Youth Dancer: Indiana (Year 12)
• Best Solo Song: Jaeden (Year 12) (‘The Moon and Me’)
• Best Solo Song: Alexis (Year 11) (‘Waiting’)
• Best Musical Director: Robert Latham
• Best Production

Nick Waxman
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies

2024 Haileybury Dance Gala

On Wednesday 13 November, 230 Prep to Grade 6 students from all four of Haileybury’s Melbourne campuses participated in the 2024 Haileybury Dance Gala.

The end of year Dance Gala is always a memorable and special event on our school calendar and a chance to celebrate our after-school dance students and their fabulous work throughout the year.

The students worked tirelessly on multiple items for the Dance Gala evening which explored various dance genres such as jazz, hip hop, lyrical and theatrical. The night was colourful, energetic and fun filled. All students had a wonderful time, beaming with pride as they came off stage. Congratulations to all students who were involved and thank you to all parents and friends who came along to support the event

The coordination of such a large program, which runs across four, campuses can be tricky, but the success is largely due to the hard work, time and efforts of our fabulous campus coordinators and coaches. These members of staff and past Haileybury students are very much invested in their classes and students and do an enormous amount of work each week to ensure the very best outcomes. Their dedication, time and effort are greatly appreciated.

We look forward to the after-school dance classes occurring again in 2025. Enrolments will open in late January. Please check the myHaileybury app for details.

Teri Batis and Cassie Peele
After School Dance Coordinators

Music

A year in review

2024 has been a particularly successful year for the instrumental music department. I trust the year has been a rewarding experience for all students and parents who made the commitment to join our collective journey of creative endeavour.  

Haileybury can now boast that over 1,200 students are set to receive a weekly instrumental music lesson in 2025. In the last month alone more than 80 families have enrolled for lessons beginning next year. As available places within the program are filling fast, with several instruments already having waitlists, I would encourage families hoping to secure a place for 2025 to please explore the Instrumental Music Handbook as soon as possible.  

As 2024 ends, the music culture at every campus sees more than one in four students carry a musical instrument to and from school throughout the week. Music does indeed play a high-profile role in school life at Haileybury.  

For Senior School, 2024 highlights worthy of particular praise include – Twilight Concert, Aria Night, Annual Concert, Jazz Nights, Chamber in the Chapel, and most recently, outstanding performances at the Senior School Celebration of Excellence held last Wednesday night.  

For Middle School, the Term 2 concert series was simply outstanding. Audience attendance numbers were large, and all students did themselves proud. Similarly, in Year 5, the recent Band Program ‘5 note’ concert series was a resounding success with students collectively sharing their newly developed skills to appreciative parents.  

At the Junior School, the Year 2 String Concert and Scrolls Concert demonstrated what can be achieved when an outstanding string department is combined with an abundance of junior school enthusiasm.  

The department’s final performance event for 2024, Haileybury Carols, was held on Thursday evening at St Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of Melbourne. It was wonderful to see so many families celebrate the season of Christmas together in a culturally diverse end to the school year.  

Well done to everyone and thanks so much for a most enjoyable year.

Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music

A new era for the visual arts at Keysborough

One of the most eagerly anticipated developments is the opening of the brand-new visual arts building at the Keysborough campus from Term 1, 2025. This stunning facility will serve as the beating heart of creativity on campus, housing our Art Making and Exhibiting, Media, and Visual Communication Design programs, replete with industry-inspired tools such as the spray booth and laser cutter. Families can look forward to a state-of-the-art gallery space adjacent to Wings Café, offering a dynamic venue to showcase student talent and professional exhibitions alike.  

The Visual Arts captains and cross-campus student committee will play a pivotal role in bringing this space to life, curating exhibitions, leading workshops and creating content for the new LED screen overlooking the quad. This screen and exhibiting space will be a vibrant portal to the arts, providing our entire school community, from ELC to Senior School, Melbourne to Pangea, Darwin and China, with inspiration, information and a window into the creative process.

Artist –in Residence program

In 2025, we will continue our exciting Artist in Residence programs, inviting renowned local artists to collaborate with our students. These residencies provide unparalleled opportunities for students to learn directly from practicing professionals, explore new techniques and deepen their understanding of the contemporary art world.

Encore of Excellence

We are thrilled to announce once more, the upcoming Encore of Excellence occurring on Monday 10 February — a celebration of our outstanding 2024 folio students alongside the Music, Dance and Performing Arts students. This event will showcase incredible works from Product Design Technology, Art Making and Exhibiting, Media, and Visual Communication Design. The event will be a testament to the innovation, effort and passion our students pour into their creative pursuits, offering an inspiring start to the year for all who attend.

Engaging with the Arts

Throughout 2025, we will continue to provide students with opportunities to engage with the arts. From student-led exhibitions and workshops to excursions to Melbourne’s world-leading cultural institutions, and ongoing access to competitions and external opportunities, the Visual Arts department is committed to making creativity and culture accessible to everyone. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to nurturing the next generation of artists, designers and creators.  

Thank you for your continued support of the Visual Arts at Haileybury. We cannot wait to share this exciting journey with you in 2025.

Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School

Pipes & Drums

The Pipes & Drums have been busy this month with performances across all campuses; the Remembrance Day Services, Celebration of Excellence evenings, Graduations and the Pipes & Drums Christmas Party have been the highlights for November.

As the Pipes & Drums finish up for 2024, the staff and students are eagerly awaiting our annual Band Camp scheduled in January, which begins our preparations for the 2025 Pipes & Drums competition season.

We look forward to another successful competition season with many students joining the competition band ranks for the very first time.

The Pipes & Drums Leadership positions were recently announced, with a strong student cohort now driving the next steps of the band’s development.

On behalf of the Pipes & Drums staff, we wish the 2025 Pipes & Drums leaders all the best as they begin their journey in their newly appointed positions.

Bring on 2025!

Daniel Staley
Acting Director, Pipes & Drums