Spotlight On Success - September
Two Rocks Primary School Exhibition
WA Opera in Albany
Students’ Art Exhibited at Sun City, Downstairs Art Gallery
Students from Two Rocks Primary School participated in their first public art exhibition over the weekend of 17th and 18th September. The Sun City Artists Association and the Downstairs Gallery are proud sponsors of the Inaugural Children’s Art Competition.
Year three, five and six students created around 150 artworks which were displayed for the public to view at the Downstairs Gallery on the lower level at the Two Rocks shopping centre. For most of the students this is their first public exhibition.
Two Rocks primary school art specialist and teacher, Kate Wagstaff, said “Students have observed artworks from other times and cultures which influenced their own artworks. They have used a range of skills, processes and media to discover different visual and tactile effects. The students and I have thoroughly enjoyed the creative art sessions and are looking forward to sharing and celebrating their work with the local community.”
Year six student, Jarryd Shepherd said ”I learnt about famous artrists and construction of their master pieces and have a better appreciation of art.”
The Children’s Art Competition was opened at 6.00pm on Friday, 18th September at the Downstairs Gallery.
Displays of artworks from Two Rocks Primary School students at the Downstairs Gallery in SunCity. Photograph by Kate Wagstaff.
West Australian Opera Education Team Inspire South West Students
The Opera in Education team comprising Amanda Barrett Hayes (Movement and Drama Director), Daniel Masmanian (Music Director) Michael Heap (Singer - Baritone) and Courtney Pitman-Kerr (Singer - Mezzo Soprano) were in the South-West regional hub of Albany in August 2009 to offer secondary students experience in opera.
In May 2008, the West Australian Opera Education Team completed a pilot project which included a one-week school residency in Geraldton, aimed at developing the skills of promising music students in the region by offering the opportunity for students to work closely with professional opera singers, musicians and directors. The company’s Opera in Education Albany Residency in August of 2009 was a continuation of the successful format that was established in Geraldton in 2008.
This residency brought together 33 students from 4 secondary schools - Albany Senior High School (host school), North Albany Senior High School, Bethel Christian School and Great Southern Grammar. The students involved in the residency had been identified by their teachers as having a particular interest or talent in the performing arts, including those studying the arts at a TEE level.
During the four 90-minute after school sessions, the Education Team taught the students specific skills, techniques and processes for developing a creative work, then rehearsing and presenting that work in front of an audience. The students performed a set of works they had developed over the residency period to an appreciative and celebratory audience of teachers, parents and friends at the conclusion of the residency. Performance of the material developed by the students was held on evening of Thursday 27 August in the Albany Senior High School Performing Arts Theatre.
On the residency, Sheena Prince, Acting HOLA of Arts at Albany Senior High School, said, “The group that came to Albany representing the West Australian Opera Company showed the students (and teachers) very effectively the many attributes that make the microcosm of theatre life work successfully…They shared their love for opera with the students in abundance and they added to this in huge measure by being unfailingly positive and encouraging in their observations of the student’s efforts…It has been a great pleasure hosting the West Australian Opera Company at our school… The influence of these performers was immediately evident in the students work and the impact will continue into their future to have a lasting impact on their lives. It was affirming for myself, as a teacher, to have the opinions of professional artists on the level of talent in some of my students.”
The Opera in Education Albany Residency was sponsored by Regional Touring Partner Water Corporation. This regional tour was also supported through a funding partnership between the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Department of Local Government and Regional Development in Western Australia. The Opera in Education program is sponsored by Healthway to promote the Smarter than Smoking message.
The West Australian Opera Education Team left to right: Josh Marsland, Courtney Pitman-Kerr, Michael Heap, Daniel Masmanian and Amanda Barrett Hayes.
Photograph by Sera Ward, Courtesy of WA Opera
