Welcome to Performing Arts for 2025

We are looking forward to another busy year in Performing Arts at Stella. We have a wonderful team of teachers who run our Performing Arts classes, extra-curricular ensembles and private lessons. For those new to the College, I would like to introduce the Performing Arts staff here at Stella.

Music Teachers
Mr Evan Browett, Mr Rob Sutcliffe, Ms Lotus Kypriotis, Ms Ines Paxton

Dance Teacher
Ms Rochelle Jones

Drama Teacher
Ms Kristen Nicola, Ms Chloe Christensen, Mr Mitchell Smith

Performing Arts Support
Mrs Leanne Haines

Performing Arts Extra Curricular Opportunities

Music Ensembles

Performance Band 
Performing in the concert band style, open to all instrumental musicians in Years 7-12 with no audition and rehearsing once a week. This ensemble allows students to tackle a range of challenging repertoire, from contemporary to the classics, and will extend their musicality and ensemble performance skills. This band performs at College events and represents the College in performances in the local community. For those musicians that are keen but less experienced, we support students with additional small group rehearsals to help with any challenging repertoire. Performance Band rehearses Wednesday mornings 7:30am.

Jazz Band

Performing in the jazz style, open to all instrumental musicians and rehearsing once a week on Tuesday at lunchtime.

String Group

Performing string repertoire, open to all string musicians (violin, viola, cello, double bass) and rehearsing weekly.

Contemporary Band

Performing contemporary music, open to all instrumental musicians/vocalists and rehearsing at various times before and after school.

Vocal Ensemble

Performing a mix of repertoire, open to all vocalists and rehearsing once a week on Thursday at lunchtime.

Senior Vocal Ensemble

Performing a mix of repertoire, open to vocalists by audition/ invitation and rehearsing once a week before school on Tuesday morning.

Guitar Ensemble

Performing a mix of repertoire, open to all guitarists and bass players and rehearsing once a week on Wednesday at lunchtime.

Drum Club

Performing various styles, open to all musicians and rehearsing one day a week before school on Thursday morning.

‘Tune Up’

A remedial lunchtime club to assist music students with any deficits in music theory or assist with composition, listening or performance techniques available on Monday at lunchtime.

You can sign up to one of the above Music ensembles by clicking here.

Private Instrumental/ Vocal tuition

We also offer private instrumental/ vocal tuition at the College. Lessons take place during the school day on a rotating timetable, so the girls do not miss time in the same class. Lessons are available on Violin, Viola, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Piano, Drum kit, Voice.

You can sign up to private instrumental vocal tuition by clicking here.

Drama

This year the ensembles will run a little differently with more specific groups for what sort of Drama you are interested in. Two of the groups will be audition based and one will be no audition required. The ensembles will run for a Semester (either Term 1-2 or Terms 3-4) and at the end of Semester a Drama night will showcase the works you have been working on. If you would like to try a different ensemble in Semester 2 you are able to change at this time to explore something different.

Drama Ensemble Timetable

Monday Morning – Theatresports and Improvisation (Years 7 -12, no audition required). Open to all students who would like to improve their confidence and quick thinking on stage through improvisation and theatresports workshops and performances.

Wednesday Morning - Play Production Ensemble (Year 8 – 12, audition-based entry)

Friday Morning – Musical Theatre Ensemble (Year 7 – 12, audition-based entry). Please note you will be required to participate in acting, singing and movement in this ensemble.

There will be a meeting at Lunch this Friday 7 February in the Theatre for all students that would like to audition for the Play Production Ensemble or Musical Theatre Ensemble with Ms Nicola. More information regarding these groups will be discussed at this time.

You can sign up to one of the above Drama ensembles by clicking here.

Dance

Dance auditions began this week with an abundance of energy and excitement.

There are a large number of teams to try out for and many students to see. From what I have seen so far, 2025 is going to be a fantastic year of dance!

Below is the updated timetable for the auditions. Don’t forget to register or email Miss Jones the groups you would like to try out: Rochelle_jones@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au.

* These are not necessarily the days actual classes will be held on.

Students have been asked to register for auditions by completing the Registration Form (only students can access this link). https://forms.office.com/r/DWVZbN3yX9

Extension Company Additional Information

*Extension Jazz Company Auditions – This is our largest dance group. In order to make the audition process run more smoothly and quickly, this group was auditioned last year (2024). I will, however, look at any student who is interested in being considered for Extension Jazz Company in the Jazz Company Auditions on Monday 3 February. If I think you might be suitable for the Extension Jazz Company I will then ask you to attend an invitation audition on Wednesday 5 February. Please be sure to let Miss Jones know that you are interested in Ext Jazz by selecting it on the registration form or by telling her in person at the Jazz Company Audition on Monday 3 February.

Extension Lyrical Company – This group will rehearse on Thursday mornings ONLY until the routine is completely learnt and polished. This usually takes all of Term 1. After Term 1 Thursdays will be used to rehearse Ext Lyrical, Ext Contemporar,y and Ext Commercial Jazz on a rotation schedule as needed. This means Ext Jazz is the only regular class that the Extension dancers need to attend every week (Wednesdays). This is done to ease the load on the elite level dancers who have high training commitments outside of school

Still to be auditioned (these will take place after the first two weeks of Auditions):

Extension Contemporary Company – this group will be auditioned after a few weeks and will be learnt in a block on Sundays or during the holidays to ease the load on the elite level dancers who have high training commitments outside of school. Rehearsals will then be held on Thursday mornings only as needed (once or twice before each performance).

Extension Commercial Jazz Company - this group will be auditioned after a few weeks and will be learnt in a block on Sundays or during the holidays to ease the load on the elite level dancers who have high training commitments outside of school. Rehearsals will then be held on Thursday mornings only as needed (once or twice before each performance).

Audition Questions

Do I audition for everything? What if I don’t get in? - I suggest you audition for everything you want to be considered for in the first week if you can manage it. This way the teachers/choreographers get to see you more and get to know you better. It also gives you more opportunity, because you may be nervous the first day and not perform your best, or you may have trouble picking up choreography if you haven’t worked with the teachers before. For example – my choreography for jazz is very fast and complex and a lot of people find it difficult to pick up at first. Then, if you aren’t successful in getting into an Extension Company or Company group you can attend the Ensemble auditions in the second week.

Please note: there are limited places in each group – we can only take a maximum of 30 students per group (due to some competition rules) so you may not get into everything you would like to. I try to make sure everyone gets in to at least one dance group out of Company or Ensemble or Performance Group.

Extension Jazz is the most difficult to get in to because the girls stay in that group every year so the only spaces that become available are due to the Year 12s that graduate and leave. This means there are only 3-5 positions available in Extension Jazz.

What do I wear?

For Extension Company and Company auditions dancewear is required – leggings or shorts with a crop top, leotard and singlet or t shirt. Please bring a turning shoe or jazz shoes in case we do turns. Sneakers/runners can be worn for Hip Hop.

For Ensemble Auditions you may wear dancewear or your sport uniform. No shoes are required. Sneakers/runners can be worn for Hip Hop.

What will happen at the audition? - Students will be taught a short combo which they will then be asked to perform in small groups. If time allows, they may also be taken through some corner technique (turns, kicks, and leaps).

Audition Breakdown:

• 7:25am – 7:30am – Roll call (please make sure you have warmed up beforehand)
• 7:30am – 7:55am – Combo is taught to the dancers
• 7:55am – 8:25am – Students perform the combo in small groups of 3-5

I can’t wait to see you all!

Miss Jones
Teacher of Dance

Mater Dei Visit

On Friday 22 November, Performance Band travelled to Mater Dei school in Camden where we shared the joy of live music with their wonderful students.

As the band played, it was incredible to see both groups of students fully engaged - clapping, singing along, and even dancing to the music. One of the highlights of the day was the instrument demonstrations, where our students had the chance to showcase their instruments up close.

Beyond the music, what stood out most was the connection between our students and theirs. Music has a unique way of bringing people together, and this visit was a perfect example of that. I’m so proud of our Performance Band for their enthusiasm, talent, and the way they represented the College.

A big thank you Mr Sutcliffe and the Music Staff and to Mater Dei for having us—we can’t wait for the next opportunity to visit.