Performing Arts

Broadley Performing Arts Centre

Our Performing Arts Centre, affectionately known as the BPAC, is a fabulous facility for hundreds of Oxley students who love to be involved in music and drama. This state-of-the-art centre comprises an intimate 260 seat auditorium, music rehearsal spaces, drama studios, music technology classrooms and provision for a recording studio. The Broadley Performing Arts Centre is ‘home’ to students from all year levels, who come together to make music and rehearse for many different performances.

Junior School Music

We offer students many opportunities to develop in the Performing Arts. Classes are held in our beautiful Broadley Performing Arts Centre. All students in Prep to Year 6 participate in both Music and Drama classes as part of their classroom curriculum.

All students in Year 2 will have the opportunity to learn to play a string instrument (violin, viola or cello). They are taught their chosen stringed instrument in small groups and a full class ensemble. Parents are invited to attend performances to witness their child’s musical development.

All students in Years 5 and 6 participate in a band program, where they receive instruction in instrument specific groups and a whole year group band. In Year 5, students choose a woodwind (flute, clarinet or saxophone), brass (trumpet or trombone) or percussion instrument. They continue learning this instrument as part of the program in Years 6 and 7. Parents are invited to attend performances by the year group bands.

Senior School Music

All students in Year 7 participate in both Music and Drama classes as part of their classroom curriculum.  In addition to their classroom music, students in Year 7 study an instrument from the brass, woodwind, percussion or strings families.  These students perform with their chosen instrument in a concert at the end of the year.

In Year 8 through to Year 12, students are able to select Music and Drama classes by elective and may choose to study VCE Music or Drama in Year 12.  Students have several performance opportunities in many of these classes.

Private Instrumental Music

Students also have the opportunity to privately study an instrument.  We offer instrumental study in piano, woodwind, strings, brass, percussion, guitar and voice.  Students attend their private instrumental lesson once a week in a rotating timetable, which ensures they do not miss the same class subject every week.  Students participating in our private music program have an opportunity to perform on their instrument at our annual Soiree evenings, ensembles, concerts, musicals and other productions.

Download: Private Instrumental Music Application

Music Ensembles

Students studying in our private instrumental lessons are encouraged to join one of our many ensembles.  The ensembles are also open to students learning an instrument outside the College.  The following ensembles are usually available each year:

  • Junior Choirs
    • Cherub (Years 3 & 4)
    • Seraphim (Years 5 & 6)
  • Senior Choir
  • Vocal Ensembles
    • Junior
    • Middle Years
    • Senior
  • Concert Bands
    • Junior Concert Band
    • Senior Concert Band
  • Junior Ensembles
    • Vivace (Tuned Percussion)
    • Andante (Year 3 Strings)
    • Cabaletta (Year 4 Strings)
    • Ostinato (Year 5 & 6 Strings)
    • Malaguena (Auditioned Year 5 & 6 Strings)
  • Senior String Ensembles
    • Sinfonia (String Orchestra)
    • Cantabile (Auditioned Middle Years)
    • Camerata (Auditioned Senior Years)
  • Orchestras
    • Junior Orchestra
    • Senior Orchestra

Ensembles perform many times throughout the year, including Ensemble Evenings, Open Day, School at Work Information Mornings, Festivals and Music Assemblies. Each year selected senior ensembles perform at our Presentation Evening held at Monash University’s Robert Blackwood Hall.

Productions / Musicals

Students in the Senior School may have an opportunity to be part of a major production or musical. Past Oxley productions include ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Singin’ In The Rain’, ‘Seussical’, ‘Unmasked’, ‘Fiddler On The Roof’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Crazy For You’ and ‘Broadway Stories’. Oxley musicals are well known for their high standards of staging, costuming and performance.

Students in Years 7 – 9 (Middle Years) also have an opportunity to be involved in a major musical production every 2 years. Past performances include ‘Aladdin Jr’ and ‘High School Musical Jr’.

Our Junior School students also participate in an annual musical production, which sees each class participate in our wonderful performances, featuring Year 6 students in the lead roles. Past productions include ‘Seussical Jr’, ‘Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Jr’, ‘Annie Jr’ and ‘Lion King Jr’.

Music Camp

The annual Oxley Music Camp is available to our Senior College students and is a highlight of the music calendar. Music students enjoy the opportunity for intensive rehearsals and fun with musicians from all senior year levels learning together.