Saint Ignatius College Geelong
In Years 7 and 8, Music and Drama are offered as compulsory subjects and the study of Dance is offered as part of their Health and Physical Education studies. Every Year 7 student learns a musical instrument as part of our innovative Year 7 Instrumental Music Program.
In Years 9 and 10, students are able to choose Music, Dance and Drama as part of their elective studies.
In Years 11 and 12, Music and Theatre Studies are currently offered in the VCE curriculum with Dance available to prospective students in the near future.
Students also have the opportunity to perform in a variety of co-curricular activities including Dance and Drama Evenings, theatrical productions, plays, assemblies, liturgies, excursions, guest teacher workshops, Open Day, lunchtime concerts and classes, street theatre festivals, Student Wellbeing Drama Festival (GPAC), Geelong Dance Showcase (GPAC) community events and Mosaic Awards Evening (Costa Hall).
The College proudly stages a full-scale school musical every two years, usually performed in the Playhouse Theatre of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, this years production will be held at Costa Hall.
Performances were held December 9th and 10th at Costa Hall and we congratulate our wonderful cast and crew for their performance last week which were fondly described as "the emergence of a super new force in Geelong’s musical theatre."
The size of a production such as Wicked can never be underestimated and we would like to once again acknowledge the expertise and guidance of our Production Team in making this such a positively emerald and thrillifying experience for all of the wonderful young people, of whom we have had the pleasure of working with everyday throughout this process.
We would also like to extend this thanks to all members of our College Community and staff at Saint Ignatius who contributed to this thrillifuying finish to 2021.
Please enjoy the following photo gallery highlighting the 'Wicked' production.
They develop their musicianship skills through aural perception, analysis and study of music language.
The Music department encompasses many facets of life at Saint Ignatius College.
These are part of its broader social importance. Each has its own special distinction, which marks itself both within and outside the Saint Ignatius community.
Through participation in the Music program, students are guided to develop a love of Music. Students are encouraged, via the pursuit of excellence, to achieve their personal best through the development of self-discipline.
Students are challenged to stimulate and develop their aesthetic awareness and explore their creativity. Students will face the future with a global view of music as an international language, through a varied curriculum including exposure to music technology.
Classroom Music is compulsory in Years 7 and 8. From Year 9 onwards Music is an elective. VCE units 1,2,3 & 4 Music Performance are part of the Years 11 and 12 program for those wishing to undertake Music.
For Units 1 & 2 there is no prerequisite standard but to complete Units 3 & 4 a student must be of at least AMEB grade V standard.
Private Tuition
The music faculty of Saint Ignatius College offers private tuition for students who may show interest in a particular instrument or voice. Students taking music lessons are withdrawn from class during school time on a rotational basis.
The school has instruments available for hire for the following:
The Mini Maestros is suited for Years 7 and 8 students who
have completed the
Year 7 Instrumental Classroom Program and or those who have been learning their instrument for a minimum for six months. The students build on their instrumental and performance skills in a friendly environment. It is a great way for junior students to gain the level of experience needed to progress to the Senior Orchestra.
The Senior Orchestra is for experienced students who have been learning their instrument for two years or more. The students rehearse on a weekly basis and hone their playing skills across a wide repertoire of music. They have many opportunities to perform throughout the school year.
The College Choirs consists of dedicated students from Year 7 to Year 12 who are versatile across a range of music genres and actively perform both at the College and in the wider community. They rehearse each week to refine their ability to harmonise, read music and sing as unified group. The students also have the opportunity to progress to featuring in solo singing roles.
Students are encouraged to sit for AMEB or ANSCA examinations in Theory and/or Practical. Prescribed fees for these examinations are to be paid in advance. A written report outlining progress will be issued at the end of each semester. Lessons are generally undertaken for a full year.
Individually and collaboratively, students write scripts and direct each other in works of their own and those of established playwrights. Students will also critically evaluate their own work and other performances using drama terminology identifying themes and issues within a variety of performances.
In VCE, Theatre Studies offers students passionate about all aspects of the stage a chance to reveal their individual strengths in roles such as actors, directors, designers, theatre technologists and theatre administrator/managers. They produce theatre for a live audience and hone their stagecraft skills in the process to better understand theatre and its practices. They intensively study play scripts from the past to present day.
Students also have the opportunity to perform in a variety of co-curricular activities including Dance and Drama Evenings, theatrical productions, plays, assemblies, liturgies, excursions, guest teacher workshops, Open Day, lunchtime concerts and classes, street theatre festivals, Student Wellbeing Drama Festival (GPAC), Geelong Dance Showcase (GPAC) community events and Mosaic Awards Evening (Costa Hall).
The College proudly stages a full-scale school musical every two years, performed in the Playhouse Theatre of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre.
In Dance, students explore a range of dance styles and refine their technical skill. They use their bodies expressively to choreograph movement to communicate meaning and perform to audiences. They view and evaluate the work of prominent choreographers.
To help develop the whole person and, in particular, to pursue our mission to produce leaders, Debating is an important part of Saint Ignatius College’s co-curricular program. As Jesuit William J. Byron, SJ. explains,
Even in this “age of the image” and in the boundary less world of cyberspace, the Jesuit high school student meets schoolmasters and activity moderators every day who impress upon their charges the importance of the spoken and written word. Using words well on paper or aloud is a special goal of Jesuit education. If education of leaders (Jesuit schools are clear about having that as a mission) is to be effective, it begins with an acknowledgment that the world moves on words and numbers. Literacy and numeracy belong in the tool kit of the leader”
Excerpt from Jesuit Saturdays: Sharing the Ignatian Spirit with Friends and Colleagues
by William J. Byron, SJ.
This year Saint Ignatius students will continue to be involved in the Debaters Association of Victoria Competition in both the senior and junior divisions. Skills gained through being part of the debating team include the ability to work within a group, problem solving, independent learning and of course the ability to speak in a public domain.
Our students look to develop:
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