Performing Arts Program

We offer a wide variety of musical activities within the College. Students are also encouraged to participate in additional musical activities and lessons to complement their musical journey.  

Additional lessons are available for: Voice, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Cello, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Piano/Keyboard... 

For an Application Form for music lessons click here  

Thomas Hassall Anglican College supports a flourishing extra-curricular Performing Arts program spanning all ages, and offers a range of ensembles.  

Students regularly perform at school assemblies and College events, as well as community initiatives and both National and International Tours. 

SENIOR CONCERT BAND: 

The Senior Concert Band involves students from Years 7-12, performing repertoire ranging from Broadway and Musical Classics, Classical Music and Symphonic Wind arrangements. Instruments used in the Concert Band include flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, tubas, baritone horns, euphonium, drums, string bass, oboe, percussion (including Timpani). Students perform with experienced professional musicians during rehearsals and run sectionals at the beginning of rehearsals 

SENIOR STAGE BAND: 

This is the College’s premier ensemble, featuring our most experienced musicians, performing a range of funk/blues/jazz and vocal classics. Included in the ensemble are Trumpets, Trombones, Saxophones and rhythm section. Students wishing to join the Senior Stage Band must be involved in the Senior Concert Band. In 2019, the Senior Stage Band performed at the Manly Jazz festival.  

INTERMEDIATE CONCERT BAND: 

This ensemble is designed for beginning and intermediate concert band musicians. Similar to the Senior Concert Band instrumentation the level of repertoire is simpler with the intention to introduce students to the demands of performing in a large scale ensemble. Students have experienced professional musicians perform with them during rehearsals and run sectionals at the beginning of rehearsals. 

INTERMEDIATE STAGE BAND: 

Featuring advanced players from the Intermediate Concert Band, this groups performs a range of funk/blues/jazz and vocal classics. Included in the ensemble are Trumpets, Trombones, Saxophones and rhythm section.  

YEAR 4 CONCERT BAND: 

Every student in year 4 is given the opportunity to perform in a concert band and receive lessons as part of their school fees. The students undergo important aural and instrument testing in year 3 to help determine the instrument best suited to them to play and perform on. Students from this program often join College ensembles to further their opportunities. 

JUNIOR STRING ORCHESTRA: 

Instruments included are violin, viola, cello and double bass. The Orchestra is under the experienced direction of Mr Ehab Ibrahim and the group performs regularly at various College events and in the wider community.

SENIOR STRING ENSEMBLE: 

This group features a small amount of more advanced string players at the College. Instruments accepted are violin, viola, cello and double bass. The Senior String Ensemble regularly performs at College events and assemblies.  

CHAPEL BAND: 

The Chapel Band performs contemporary Christian Music at various College events and local youth groups. They regularly play at the College chapel services and end of year celebration events. 

JUNIOR CHAPEL BAND: 

Junior Chapel band is an auditioned group of students that performs contemporary Christian Music at various College events. They regularly play at the Junior College chapel services and end of year celebration events. 

JUNIOR BAND: 

The Junior Concert Band involves students from Year 4-6. These are beginning musicians who have the opportunity to practice their skills and perform together as they shape their early musical development. The band is comprised of a variety of instruments and the focus is on students having an outlet to practice their performance and ensemble skills.   

DRUM CIRCLES: 

There is a Junior and a Senior drum-circle. These groups use African drums called ‘djembes’ and bass drums called ‘dun-duns’, as well as congas and bongos, to perform traditional African rhythms. Students study various accompanying rhythms and solo phrases, as well as working on group compositions. This is a great way to develop fundamental musical knowledge, and learn how to work as a team, and have fun! Rehearsals for these groups are during lunchtimes. 

SENIOR VOCAL GROUP: 

Senior Vocal Group is an auditioned group of secondary vocalists from Years 7-12. Rehearsals take place every Monday afternoon, after College, under the choral direction of Miss Rapisarda. Students in this group sing a range of challenging repertoire incorporating multiple harmony parts and Acapella singing.  Senior Vocal Group have the opportunity to sing at various College events and in the wider community. 

JUNIOR CHOIR: 

Junior Choir is a group of junior vocalists from Years 4-6. Rehearsals take place every Monday afternoon, after College, under the choral direction of Miss Rapisarda.  During rehearsal, Junior Choir are equipped to learn simple and effective vocal techniques in order to sing correctly and in harmony.  They sing a range of repertoire including rounds, gospel music, popular music and other forms of choral repertoire suited to their age group.  Junior Choir have the opportunity to perform at various College Events and in the wider community. 

SAXOPHONE ENSEMBLE: 

The Saxophone Ensemble is made up of senior students which have already been involved in Senior ensembles and built their performance and ensemble skills. Students audition for this group which focuses on taking their saxophone skills further with more challenging pieces, improvisation and opportunities for solos. 

GUITAR ENSEMBLE: 

The Guitar Ensemble is an acoustic guitar group that plays pop and rock songs. The group builds on skills such as playing harmonies, melodies and chord patterns. They rehearse at lunchtime.  

Every two years, Thomas Hassall students have the opportunity to participate in our band program music tour. Our tours can be overseas or interstate and have proved to be very successful learning experiences with life long memories for the students involved.  Recent tours have included: 

2019 Generations in Jazz

In Term 2 our Senior Stage Band and Senior Vocal Group travelled to Mt Gambier in South Australia to participate in the Generations in Jazz festival; hosted by Australia’s favourite jazz musician, Mr James Morrison. In 2019, 5000 students from across Australia and New Zealand participated in the event across 13 stages. This is a truly extraordinary experience for all involved, and we were excited to offer this opportunity to our student musicians. The tour commenced with a stopover and combined workshop and performance session at Moama Anglican Grammar School.

The Senior Stage band presented a varied program, from modern adaptations of jazz standards from the 1940’s and 50’s, to a new-age jazz fusion tune from Snarky Puppy. The Senior Vocal Group performed two pieces for their category, Australian composition called ‘The Kitchen Sink’ and an acapella arrangement of Isn’t She Lovely. Both ensembles entertained large crowds and the audiences were encouraging and supportive throughout all performances.

Students were also able to attend concerts by renowned jazz vocalists and instrumentalists; including Kurt Elling, Lizz Wright and Joey De Francesco.

In addition to all the gigs, students also participated in a range of social and tourist activities along the way, with a fun stopover in Melbourne on the way home featuring an action packed game of ten pin bowling! It was a memorable experience for all that will no doubt be a highlight of their school years.

2017  Melbourne 

During the Easter school holidays, our Senior Concert & Stage Bands, along with our Senior Vocal Group participated in the College’s first music tour to Melbourne. Commencing with a gig at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, our students performed very well to a healthy crowd in the Big Top Amphitheatre. Travelling on the College coach through Canberra and Albury, including a public lunchtime performance in Albury, the students then arrived in Melbourne. 

Within the six day tour, our students performed eight gigs, ranging from public performances and workshops, to radio interviews, recording and even busking. All of our students performed extremely well on the tour, and as the days went by, students played better and better each time, the setup and pack-up of each gig got faster, and friendships and support for each other grew stronger. Students will definitely remember this tour for the rest of their lives. This tour provided a range of musical activities that professional musicians would participate in whilst on a professional tour. 

In addition to all the gigs, students also participated in a range of social and tourist activities, including viewing the famous Aladdin musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre, a boat cruise on the Yarra River, late night shopping, movie night, a visit to Luna Park, and travelling up the largest viewing tower in the southern hemisphere, Eureka 88 Observation Deck, to enjoy a 360 degree view of Melbourne by night. 

Some of the students shared their tour thoughts with us: 

"The Melbourne music tour provided me an opportunity to consolidate and improve my personal and ensemble skills. The tour gave myself and many others a chance to gauge our level of musicality with other schools around the country and provide confidence to our soloing ability." Ali Dursun (Year 12) 

"The Melbourne music tour was a brilliant experience which gave us a glimpse of all the musical possibilities out there waiting for us to explore. I would recommend the music tour to future music students as it is one experience which you will never forget. The music tour gives students exposure to the world, helping them build confidence, improve musically, develop new friendships and introduces you to many different musical aspects such as busking, public performances and radio interviews. Music tours give students a taste of what it is like to be a musician."  Nashita Hussain (Year 8) 

2015 - New Zealand (Combined  with Penrith Anglican College) 

This tour was our second trip to New Zealand, this time visiting the South Island.  Our Senior Concert Band, Stage Band and Vocal Group teamed up with similar ensembles from Penrith Anglican to create a fantastic mega tour band.  Students visited and performed in a variety of locations, including Mount Cook, Queenstown, Dunedin, Milford Sound and a beautiful little country village called Te Anau. Performances from students ranged from concert events to school workshops and assembly performances, even street busking!  Students also participated in cultural events such as the haka and enjoyed adrenalin pumping activities including the famous mountain luge in Queenstown.  It was very pleasing to see life long friendships formed between both Colleges. 

2013 - Queensland 

This was the first time the Senior Concert Band and Stage Band had toured together.  An action-packed five day tour in which students performed at Dreamland, The Big Pineapple, shopping centres and even a live interview/performance on ABC radio - an invaluable experience.  Students also visited two other Anglican schools and participated in joint workshops and performances with their ensembles.  Social activities such as visiting theme parks and outdoor go-karting where a key part of the itinerary too. 

2011 - New Zealand 

Our first international tour of our extremely talented Senior Stage Band, featuring two very talented vocalists.  We travelled to the North Island city of Rotorua which is famous for it's 'smell' of sulphur from volcanoes and which took a little getting used to.  The students performed at stunning outdoor locations with spectacular views, visited local schools and performed for the community.  They even signed autographs for the audience who thoroughly enjoyed our performance.  Students also participated in cultural activities, visited interesting attractions such as the volcano centre (where an egg was boiled in a hot spring!) and a reptile park where they had a close encounter with the Kiwi.  A very memorable tour for all involved. 

The Creative Arts Department arranges a Music Camp for students every two years, (rotating with the school Musical Productions). The camps are held in the Blue Mountains. Students have the opportunity to have full band rehearsals, sectional workshops, as well as plenty of time to play sports, games, and participate in the famous Talent Contests!  

Musicals previously produced at College: 

•     Shrek the Musical (2022)
•     Peter Pan (2020) 
•     Leader of the Pack (2018) 
•     Wizard of Oz (2016) 
•     Fiddler on the Roof (2014) 
•     Beauty and the Beast (2012) 
•     Seussical (2010) 
•     Oklahoma (2008) 
•     Joseph (2006)  

Junior College - The Junior College biannually showcases every student in each year group in a spectacular series of evening concerts. This year the Junior Creative Arts series will be held in September.

Secondary College 'M.A.D.E. for Stage' (Music Arts Drama Entertainment) - This is an event hosted every 2 years to showcase the College’s best work in the Arts. Including College Music Ensembles, Soloists, Drama, Dance, Visual Art and Photography. The evening is often hosted with delicious food prepared and cooked by our Hospitality students. This year the Secondary Creative Arts "M.A.D.E for Stage' event will be held in August.