Members of Oxley College Concert Band

Last Saturday members of our Senior Concert Band, Lodaré and the boys from the Senior Choir took part in a community concert for ‘The Dining Room’, a Croydon community meal service for struggling families and homeless people.  The purpose of the concert was to raise funds and raise public awareness about the issue of homelessness and poverty, and needs in our own community. The evening included a presentation from David Knoop, the Director of The Dining Room.

The groups from Oxley College were joined with traditional jazz band, Maurie’s Jolly Rollers and the Sunbury Divas who were seen on The Battle of the Choirs television show.  The manager of the Divas, Adam Przewlocki, said before his Choir performed, “I just want to congratulate the Oxley choirs, they were just outstanding.  It’s fantastic to see the quality of what is coming out of the secondary school system in Victoria at the moment. It’s an exciting sign for the future.”

Senior Concert Band Performs for the Companion Club

On Friday, 28th August the Senior Concert Band, conducted by Mr Kevin Hogg, performed a concert for the members of the Companion Club at the Ringwood Salvation Army Church.  The Club draws its members from the local community and they come together weekly to socialise, providing a place for companionship and fellowship.

Our Senior Concert Band and its members offered a diverse program of band and other items including trumpet, piano solos, and a flute duet.  The audience tapped and clapped along to the Bands exciting performances of music from Grease to Star Wars and our students are to be congratulated on their fine performances.  Following the concert, the students were treated to a delicious lunch.  This was a wonderful opportunity for our music students to reach out to the wider community and share their love of music with others.

Miss Anna Broadley & Lodaré with Professor David de Kretser and Mayor Len Cox

On Thursday the 6th of August, the Oxley College a Capella vocal group Lodaré were invited by Mayor Len Cox, to perform at a Civic Reception for the Governor of Victoria at the Linley Estate in Kilsyth.  The event was attended by over 200 invited guests, including state and federal politicians, volunteers, representatives from CFA and the Police, local business leaders and welfare organisations.

The Governor spoke of how beautiful our shire is, with its amazing natural beauty.  He told of his visit to fire affected areas and acknowledged the fantastic work of volunteers, especially those who continue to work tirelessly for those affected by the fires of Black Saturday.  Governor, Professor David de Kretser also used the opportunity to highlight men’s health and the resources that are now freely available, stating “Men are role models for their family and need to take their health seriously”.

Lodaré performed four items to the mingling guests and were congratulated on their beautiful sound by the Mayor. Cr Len Cox invited Lodaré as entertainment for the event after hearing their performance at the National Day of Thanksgiving earlier this year.  The performance capped off two busy days for the group, who participated in Oxley’s Musical Ensemble Evening the night before and presented items that morning to the hundreds in attendance at the Outer Eastern Prayer Breakfast held at the Karalyka Centre.

Coming Soon…

• 250 Seat Theatre
• Performance and Rehearsal Spaces
• Music Technology and Drama Classrooms
• Instrumental Teaching Rooms
• Recording Studio
• Public Foyer
• Staff Offices and Amenities
• Environmental Sustainability Measures
• Future Outdoor Amphitheatre

Oxley College has a rich history of excellence in the performing arts.  Exciting programs of instrumental music, vocal ensembles and productions such as Gershwin’s ‘Crazy For You’, Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and more recently, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, provide students with fabulous experiences which build on the class room studies of Music and Drama, enhancing cultural understanding and self confidence.

In July 2009 Oxley will begin construction of a brand new Performing Arts Centre, using $2.5 million dollars in Government Funding under its Building the Education Revolution.  This will provide a much needed resource, meeting the desperate needs of our Performing Arts faculty, who currently work in rooms with limited equipment across the school.  This new building will provide a central location, acoustically sound rooms and a new sense of cohesion within the faculty.  The ultimate benefit is the performing arts education of our students.

Every student at Oxley has the opportunity for a rich education within the Performing Arts curriculum.  Many also enjoy individual music lessons, participation in instrumental ensembles and choral groups.  Will you commit to join with us as we seek to raise further funds towards this exciting project?  Your donation will help equip and furnish this new building to ensure the needs of our students and this faculty are met.

Help us inspire the next generation!

For further information on how you can support the school in this exciting development, please contact Matt Daly in the Development Office on 03 9727 9900 or email: matt.daly@oxley.vic.edu.au

Recent communications regarding the building of the new Oxley Performing Arts Centre and details on how you can donate can be downloaded via the links below. We thank you for your consideration and for your continuing support of Oxley College as we partner with you in the pursuit of excellence in Christian education.

Performing Arts Centre Brochure

Performing Arts Centre – Letter to Parents (24th June 2009)

Past student Michael Johnson (Class of 2008) has made Oxley proud, recently performing in front of a full audience at The Arts Centre, Hamer Hall as part of ‘Top Acts’ (the finale of the ‘VCE Season of Excellence’).  Selected students performed across the performing arts, including music solo, music group, dance, drama and theatre studies – showcasing the top performing students from across Victoria in each of these genres.  Michael was one of only four students to be selected for drama.”It’s actually quite a significant thing to be asked to do, in the world of performing arts. It’s the first time Oxley has been represented in this event” said Drama Teacher, Mrs. Karyn Hodgkinson. “We congratulate him on this fantastic achievement, he was excellent in our Fiddler on the Roof production last year and shone again at Top Acts.  He is a talented young man!”

Pictured:  Michael Johnson in Fiddler on the Roof (2008)

Clare Tyler is currently completing Year 12 at Oxley College… and is a world class dog handler by night!

We would like to congratulate Clare and wish her well as she travels to Birmingham, England to take part in ‘Crufts’.  Crufts is an annual international championship conformation show for dogs, organised and hosted by the Kennel Club (UK).  It is the largest annual dog show in the world, as declared by the Guinness Book of Records.

Clare took part in the State Junior Dog Handler Final on July 12th 2008, competing against the top winning handlers in Victoria.  Progressing through to the top four, she then went on to take out the senior section where our own Jacqueline O’Riley ( Year 8 ) placed second.  Clare was then required to compete against the Junior section winner which she also won, heading off to the Victorian State Finals at the Royal Melbourne Show.

“I competed against a handler from every State and Territory, I was lucky enough to be selected as Australia’s number one handler!”  Clare now flies to England on Monday to represent Australia in the International Junior Dog Handling Final at Crufts.  Good luck Clare!

Congratulations to the Unit 3 Drama class of 2008!

On the evening of Thursday 22nd May, the Unit 3 Drama students (comprising eleven Yr 12 students and two Yr 11 students), performed their Drama ensembles.

The theme of the work was ‘multiculturalism’, incorporating stories of people emigrating to other lands. The main stimulus for the work was the beautiful wordless book, ‘The Arrival’, by Shaun Tan. The 3 plays showed great diversity in approach and content. Particularly, satire and symbolism were used to great effect.

This is the students’ major VCE group Drama project for the year. It is totally self devised by the students, and requires careful research, enormous creativity and a high degree of teamwork. Needless to say, it is a demanding task but the students worked very hard and rose to the task exceedingly well.

We were treated to a terrific night’s entertainment. We laughed lots, we cried, we were spellbound. Our heartiest congratulations once again to these students for a wonderful evening – you did yourselves and Oxley, proud.

What amazing Drama students we have!