THE BRUNSWICK SOUVENI SM R H ED N O I R T I B R U N S W I C K S E C O N D A R Y C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E Special Issue August 2014

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1 B R U N S W I C K S E C O N D A R Y C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E Special Issue August 2014

2 FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS CAPTAIN The journey to bring Brunswick Secondary College s own High School Musical: On Stage! to life has been extremely rewarding not only for the students, staff and production family, but also as an achievement celebrated by the whole school community. Over the last 5 months, I have witnessed changes in confidence, skill, stamina and the development of camaraderie from our company of 82 students; displaying exemplary examples of our 6 school values. The result? A new and improved Performing Arts Department, inspired students and a fantastic week in the theatre! Having the opportunity to share the stage with the cast as Kelsi, the witty composer of the East High winter musical, as well as being a cheerleader in the opening scene meant that I was pushed to my limits one minute I was exuberant and lively, the next, being shy and awfully clumsy! It was a real joy to be able to play two very different characters! The doubling of student participation numbers since 2013 is testimony that performing arts is becoming more popular at Brunswick and has become an integral part of our school s culture. Being Performing Arts Captain has been an honour. The shared workload, with the assistance of the Performing Arts Committee, was all worth it - especially seeing students exclaim in surprise when they exceeded their dreams and aspirations, often walking out of rehearsal with a new found confidence and beaming smiles. I can t explain how incredibly proud I am of their achievements and thankful to have been able to work with the HSM Company. I thank the incredible teachers - Tracie, Mr Tranter and Kathleen - for making my final high school production a memory that I will keep close to my heart. Without their expertise, endless encouragement, inspiration, hard work and sacrifice behind the scenes there would simply be no show. They have been integral to my discovery of a love for theatre which has in turn led me to form amazing friendships within the HSM company. Both my love of theatre and the friendships made will long outlast my school years. As the Year 12 students complete their final weeks of schooling, I look back in pride knowing that each student has benefited from this experience. I cannot wait to come back and cheer on my fellow thespians in their future theatre endeavours and I know, without a doubt, that they will excel beyond our greatest expectations. Larissa Li Performing Arts Captain Kelsi Neilson

3 Tracie Eastwood With each new school production at Brunswick Secondary College I am more and more swept away by the power of community. The cast, crew and production team worked tirelessly to bring Disney s High School Musical on Stage to you amidst much excitement, teamwork, laughter and the pure joy of working together. The challenge in directing this production was to bring something fresh and different to such a well-known musical as we were transported into the social strata of high school and reminded that young people can achieve their dreams. One of the most critical decisions for staging a school production is the choice of musical and it has to be manageable for actors, musicians, designers and crew. For this production the performers could identify and relate to the content which allowed for greater creative freedom in accessing students talents and most importantly, their imagination. This is vital in developing skills in confidence, self-belief, leadership and resilience. We started with a blank canvas, a company of 82 students, a production team, stage technicians and a vision of how we could bring this production to life. I am sure you would agree that the overall result was an energetic, vibrant and polished performance. I would like to acknowledge the collective creative expertise of Nick Tranter and Kathleen McGuire for their willingness to share their time and talents which undoubtedly enhanced the production. I believe there is a creative capacity in all students that should be fostered and encouraged. The professionalism and combined efforts of the cast and crew ensuring the highest quality of performance was both gratifying and uplifting for all involved. I am excited to see Brunswick Secondary College students excel in the arts and I am certain some of our most talented students will continue to explore and develop their creative potential for years to come. You have all reached for the highest star now the world can see you in a way that s different from who you are. Tracie Eastwood Director/Choreographer PRODUCTIONTEAM Nick Tranter Many actors say that what they love about theatre is the ability to be somebody else on stage. Adopting a character s persona in front of an audience can be an exhilarating experience. Many staff have told me how they were amazed to see such convincing and entertaining characters on stage, brought to life by the students they teach. Indeed, the performances exceeded my expectations and I continue to be impressed by the talent of students at Brunswick SC. However, while I was thrilled to see such distinct and vibrant characters on stage, I have been more proud at seeing these students be themselves. In other words, it has been my privilege to see students interacting with their peers and enjoying each other s company without judgement or fear of being different. The High School Musical company has become a close-knit group of young artists who worked together and created something amazing, and the friendships forged and strengthened throughout the rehearsal and performance period are truly special. The rapid growth of Performing Arts at our school was visible on stage, in the pit and backstage, with all students taking on positions of responsibility and demonstrating professionalism that would rival those in the industry. I am particularly proud of our graduating students who have demonstrated our school values in an exceptional way. High School Musical was an absolute joy to be a part of, mostly thanks to the staff with whom I work: Tracie Eastwood and Kathleen McGuire are outstanding teachers who inspire, invigorate and challenge me. High School Musical made me even more aware of what a fantastic place Brunswick SC is to be a teacher. Nick Tranter Assistant Director/Stage Manager High School Musical was so much fun to put together, especially with a significant increase in the number of students participating compared with our 2013 production. As well as the wonderful singers on stage, for this years production we had twenty-six student instrumentalists (from Years 7 11) performing. This included six students in the pit orchestra plus another twenty in the marching band. Many of the students started playing their instruments only this year. The musical production provides a unique opportunity for our students to work alongside those from other year levels and truly feel part of a community. I was extremely proud of the entire cast and crew; their work individually and collectively epitomised the school s values of excellence, perseverance, responsibility, achievement, teamwork and respect. Dr Kathleen McGuire Musical Director Kathleen McGuire

4 journey. Togetherness: that is THE BRUNSWICK Liam Jenkins Troy Bolton It s easy to look at a musical and not properly estimate the amount of time, dedication and sacrifice that goes into it. Around six months ago, students of the High School Musical Company started the long but exhilarating development of our second annual musical production. The musical meant sacrificing our own free time to rehearse, and help to progress the show whether that be during one (or more) of the several separate rehearsals held during the school week, or even over weekends. If I could say only one thing about my experience in being a part of the annual BSC musical production, it would be that it s a hell of a lot of hard work but perhaps the most rewarding aspect is such a friendly, supportive and lively group of people with whom you share the journey. Togetherness: that is what Brunswick is really all about. Elise Louey Gabriella Montez There is nothing else out there that gives you that sensation: when you perform on the stage and look out into the audience, it truly amazes you. You stand there and you think, I can t believe I ve come so far! From the beginning of the High School Musical journey to the end, every single person in the company can say that they ve surprised themselves, and that they re a part of something bigger. There is no doubt that playing Gabriella Montez was an incredible experience. I remember watching the movie as a kid and wishing I was her. It s pretty awesome to say that for half a year, I was this shy, brainy, Disney character with a heartthrob boyfriend. I m really thankful that I got the opportunity to live my Disney dream but even so, there is something way better that came from being involved in the musical. It s a realisation. After the very last show, after the final curtain comes down, everything freezes for just a second. In that second, a million thoughts and emotions rush through your head while you re madly hugging and screaming and crying. In this exact moment, you realise that every single person has come together and created one massive musical family. And that s the sensation. That s what brings you back year after year to do it all over again. CASTCOMMENTS Josh Calwell Ryan Evans High School Musical was my first whole school production. As a kid, I loved High School Musical (the movie) so I was stoked to be involved in putting it on the stage. I was lucky enough to be given the principal role of Ryan. Ryan is a very theatrical student who is Vice President of the school s Drama Club. Ryan has a sister, Sharpay; they are both talented but Sharpay tries to make her spotlight shine the brightest. Ryan is consistently in his sister s shadow up until the end of the show. Through High School Musical I have gained confidence and coordination in my dancing. I would encourage as many people as possible to join next year. You gain new skills, meet so many new people through interaction with all year levels and work with a very encouraging and skilled group of teachers. I have made great friends and enjoyed an experience I will never forget. Sasha Gillies-Lekakis Chad Chad is an energetic, sporty jock at East High, and is best friends with Troy, the captain of the basketball team. High School Musical has been a great experience for me. I have developed so many new skills throughout this journey as well as improved my acting, singing and dancing. I have learned so much about the theatre and how to put an amazing show together and perform it on stage. I have found many new friends with others that have taken part in High School Musical, and have strengthened my bond with the production team and cast. Most importantly however, I have had lots of fun working with everyone to make the show a reality. This fantastic opportunity has left me with so many memories that I will treasure forever. Chris Villarossa Alan My experience in the production of HSM was simply amazing - the best 5 months of my life so far. There were ups and downs but I would never change them because they all made for an amazing cast, company and four great performances. I learned so much about different things - how to be a better actor, what a house rag is and what heads! means in theatre. In theatre, we say Chookas which means Good luck in theatre language. I played the character Alan, one of the drama club kids and a jock. Alan is shy but becomes a vibrant, colourful, and a passionate actor after breaking out of his shell. I loved playing Alan because he reminds me of myself in a way - stepping out of my comfort zone and becoming an actor! Elian Haddad Science Captain, Taylor McKessie Being a part of the High School Musical production was one of the best experiences I ve had in my 13 years of schooling. It brought me closer to my fellow Year 12 classmates and gave me the chance to meet many students from all the other year levels at Brunswick. It was amazing to watch everyone grow; especially those who started off shy who then turned out to be just as crazy as the rest of us. I had the pleasure of playing the science captain, Taylor McKessie. This was the first time I had played a principal role in a musical and I was nervous at the beginning, but with the help of the three wonderful teachers we had supporting and guiding us I managed to get really into the character of Taylor. Overall the production was an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone! There are so many ways to get involved - there is something in it for everyone.

5 Blake Everett Coach Bolton The fact that our high school musical this year was High School Musical: On Stage made it almost too much to handle. I found it quite difficult having to deal with the irony of the whole situation, it really affected me! Thankfully I was able to push on through without having a complete mental breakdown and becoming a lifeless sample of ironic nibbles which you would find a worker (possibly at Coles) handing out to unsuspecting customers who wouldn t dare say no to free nibbles and therefore would feel the wrath of a spicy slice of irony which may or may not be served with their choice of dipping sauce. So now I ve said what I wanted to say I d like to simply thank everyone who had even the smallest bit of involvement in High School Musical coming together: the actors, the musicians, the backstage crew, the teachers, the audience, the people who thought I was a teacher or a member of staff at the Clocktower filling in for a bed ridden student, Ms. Tellefson for saying: seeing you play that character on stage made me believe you were an actual man (as opposed to a woman?) and of course the people who laughed when I told them the character I was playing was Zac Efron s dad, because it was easier than saying Coach Bolton and having to explain who that was. I would like to not thank the one person who didn t laugh when I said Zac Efron s dad and went on to ask if High School Musical was part biographical. On second thoughts, thank you; that was pretty funny. Kyle Tran James Throughout the whole production of High School Musical, I was lucky enough to play the role of James. He is an earthworm expressionist and also a thespian. For me, doing HSM has opened many doors and has boosted my confidence. It made me realise there is more to me. Besides that, I have made new friends with people I would never have met without doing HSM. The school production is a great way to find new talents within yourself, to see what you are capable of and is a great way to meet people too. That is the reason I will keep on doing it!! Indu Mulligan Cyndra My experience of putting on the production of High School Musical has been amazing. During these last five months I have made friends with students from Year 7 all the way up to Year 12, which is such as privilege. In the production I was lucky enough to get the role of Cyndra - a thespian student who sings unusually high notes and who has dreams of becoming an opera singer. I loved playing this role and had so much fun getting into the zone of the character at rehearsals and in the theatre. I have learned and developed so many new skills that I am going to take with me for the rest of my life. Since doing Fame last year, I have also been able to see so many new students take part in High School Musical as more students are participating in performing arts than ever before. I will take away and cherish the unforgettable memories of High School Musical forever. James Heywood Jason This was my first whole school production so I was a bit nervous but at the same time extremely excited! I participated in the junior production last year called Ratbags and really enjoyed it, mixing with people from other year levels I wouldn t normally get the chance to meet. I also really enjoyed watching Fame last year and after Ratbags I thought I d step it up a notch and join the whole school production. It was a decision I will never regret! I came to the first meeting and realised a lot of friends I had made from Ratbags had come along, as well as friends from my year level, so I felt very comfortable. I auditioned for a principal role and I was cast as Jason, a jock. I was so thrilled! As the weeks went by (and they went by fast) I met many wonderful people who shared my new found love for theatre. Everyone was so warm and friendly. I was quite nervous as show week came creeping up, going over the dances and songs in my head just to make sure I would do the best I could do. The set was amazing and I loved the feel of the head mics and costumes as well! As the dress rehearsals went by, I could feel the company growing closer, even more than before. By the last show, each and every scene was fabulous and everyone was great and I am not ashamed to say I felt a bit teary! I still laughed at every joke (off stage of course) and became a semi pro at putting on makeup (except for eyeliner - eyeliner is hard!). I didn t want it to end, but all good things must! High School Musical was an amazing experience for me, it pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowed me to meet wonderful people and GOT MY HEAD IN THE GAME! I would like to thank everyone for creating one of the best memories of my school years. I would also especially like to thank Larissa who helped me find my love for theatre because of her contribution to Ratbags. I can happily say with a big smile on my face that this won t be my last musical at Brunswick Secondary College! Xavier Dupé Jack Scott I played Jack Scott, the school announcer, in the production. This role was somewhat different from others as I broke the fourth wall (spoke directly to the audience) and even appeared from the audience at the start of Act II. One of the most exciting new developments this year was the use of students in the bands. This created a great dynamic whereby the performers, the backstage crew and the musicians were all in this together, as we were all students and really developed as a team in the High School Musical camp and the many rehearsals during production. As I am in Year 12, this will unfortunately be my last production with Brunswick, but I am grateful for this experience and look forward to watching next year s show. I want to thank Tracie, Mr Tranter and Kathleen for all their hard work, and for imparting skills that I will cherish. Lucy Payne Ms Darbus I played Ms. Darbus in High School Musical - On Stage Ms. Darbus is the Drama teacher at East High and tries, often in vain, to foster a passion and commitment to the arts in her reluctant students. She continually clashes with the school sports teacher (and Troy s dad) Coach Bolton over their conflicting interests and priorities. In the end, however, the two reconcile over the Troy s success in both his singing and sporting pursuits. Darbus is flamboyant and eccentric and it has been so much fun playing her - a real treat and a chance for me to extend my acting experience and skill. The production is the highlight of my school year and, as a Year 12 student, I am so happy to have been able to be involved in two productions before I leave. The skills and experience I have gained from working on a full scale production in a professional theatre are invaluable and I am so excited to take them with me into my further study. I am so grateful to have been able to enjoy all the performing arts opportunities of Brunswick over the years and to be involved in consistently incredible and professional productions. Thank you to all the teachers and students involved - I can t wait to see what you put on next year!

6 Harry Wilkinson 9K P.A student/ Basketball jock Hello, my name is Harry and I had an opportunity this year to participate in my third musical production. In High School Musical I was given the opportunity to play two different roles. The first was a Performing Arts student in Act 1, then in Act 2 I was a basketball jock. These two different roles provided me with a variety of songs to perform. As a Performing Arts student, I got to perform, The Audition Song as well as a thespian part in Stick to the Status Quo. As a Jock I performed Get cha Head in the Game and Counting on You. Having been a part of last year s musical, Fame, I have to say that this musical was better in so many ways. We had a larger cast to work with, the core band was more student focused and our sets were perfect. My experience from this production was a good one, and I believe that I improved on everything that I learned from Fame! Gracie Tointin Mongo Last year, Brunswick Secondary College put on a fantastic rendition of Fame: The Musical, in which I was involved. This year, I was delighted to find out that we would be putting on a production of Disney s High School Musical - On Stage! From the very first rehearsal, it seemed as if every member of the company had already become friends. I think that all of us would agree that our rehearsals were very tiring and sometimes quite difficult, but at the same time each and every one was so much fun and equally rewarding. Throughout the months leading up to show-week, the entire company gave up so much time practicing and working together to create something spectacular. When we finally got into the theatre, we knew immediately that our work had paid off. I am honestly so thankful that I got the chance to work with such a talented, kind, funny and hard-working company, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Amelia Newman: Performance Art Kid High School Musical was a great experience. I ve been in some sort of production (Rock Eisteddfod, BSTC) every year since I started school and High School Musical really reminded me of the same kind of comradery that Rocker had. Being in the production is a wonderful way to make friends at school. All that being in a musical requires is commitment - AND the ability to not take things to seriously. With the hilarious dialogue in High School Musical it was easy not to take things to seriously! Being in the production is an opportunity to grow and learn no matter what year you re in. People always say the same things after each production, but it is true: High School Musical (or Fame or Rocker) was amazing in every way. It s also true that whether it s Rock Eisteddfod, Fame or High School Musical, you always get out what you put in - the commitment really pays off. My advice to people in the younger years is to start doing productions as soon as possible because school years go by quickly, and you need to snatch up these opportunities. Anushka Gaire Kratnoff It s not every day you get to be a part of a grand project like the whole school High School Musical production. And my, it has been an experience. Every day spent surrounded by High School Musical has been an absolute blast - from the first auditions till the moment the curtains hit the floor. In the musical I played the role of a history buff, or brainiac, named Kratnoff who was constantly telling people to stick to the status quo and to do the things that they were expected to do. It was a pretty fun role to play and it meant that I could tell people off for not doing what they were meant to do. In contrast to this serious role, I also had a part as one of the cheerleading squad at East High. I had the time of my life being surrounded by our amazing HSM company and doing what I truly love performing! And seeing all our hard work pay off was a beautiful feeling - a feeling that I will cherish forever. Massimo Lantieri-Bartley Moderator/MC For my first whole school production ever, I played two minor roles. One of them was the party announcer for the New Year s celebration, and the other one was a moderator for a science tournament. Both of those roles were extremely fun to act in as I got to showcase my knack for voice work for the announcer, as well as the facial expressions and gestures while performing the moderator part! Never, in my whole life, have I felt so welcomed by the positive and passionate spirit of the teachers, the atmosphere, and especially the other members of the cast. This experience, I am proud to say, has helped me to improve my confidence and self-esteem when it comes to knowledge of the performing arts industry and has inspired me to never lose faith in what goals I want to accomplish! Also, due to the kindness and dedication of the other members, I easily feel that I ve made some pretty close friends who share the same interests and are just a blast to communicate with! So, lastly, a huge thank you to the members of the cast, I hope that everyone who attended the performances enjoyed them, and a MASSIVE shout-out to the teachers; Nick Tranter, Tracie Eastwood, and Kathleen McGuire! WE RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!!! Alanna Marshall Ms Tenny High School Musical was a great choice for the production. It has a lot of fun and energetic characters that our actors can really get into and the music was the soundtrack our lives when the film came out in 2006! It was fabulous that this year the school was able to utilise even more of the students talents. I met a heap of new faces and got to work with some fantastic people. Even though I wasn t as involved in the rehearsal process as much as I was during Fame, I felt very connected to the show and its success. I played Ms Tenny, the serious but passionate chemistry teacher who sees a bit of herself in Gabriella. Although she wasn t on stage a lot, Ms Tenny had the important role of being the generic teacher beside the two eccentric characters of Coach Bolton and Ms Darbus. She reminded the audience that the musical is set in a high school and not some weird sport and drama club. All in all, the experience has been fantastic and I hope the audience enjoyed it as much as we did!

7 High School Musical was a great experience for me. Being involved in the production really helps you grow stronger and more confident. Seeing the show from the sidelines and being able to work on it is truly a remarkable highlight of my high school experience. It provided me with an insight into the different tasks involved with working in theatres and closely with peers from different year levels. I was given the responsibility of microphones during the show which is a great honour for me as I was expecting a less interesting role. The job involved taking microphones off and putting them on all twenty-four principals and handling them with extra care as they are very fragile. Overall, it was an incredible journey seeing all cast and crew perform on a larger scale in front of an audience. I would like to say thank-you to all three teachers/mentors Mr Tranter, Tracie and Kathleen for bringing out the best in all of us. You guys were, and are, wonderful. Thank you once again. Isbah Najam Backstage During HSM I was up in the lighting box controlling all the fantastic lights that were happening on stage during the rehearsals and shows. I had to design a Lighting Plot for the show, which means programming the lights for each scene on stage. There were approximately 80 lighting cues to program. I had so much fun doing lighting and helping out with the school production. I m glad I was given the opportunity. Jordan Fantone Lighting crew Backstage is the perfect opportunity for taking part in a performance without actually having to be seen. We had a great team of backstagers that ranged from Years 7 to 12. I found this an amazing experience to mix with and form friendships with the younger students, especially as this is my final year of schooling. Being a stagehand allowed me to see the works behind the scenes; from flying the flys to moving the props. Despite the manual labour of moving props, all of the stagehands enjoyed themselves in the wings - especially our attempts to learn the dance routines. We got better with every show! I regret not having taken the opportunity to be involved in shows until my final year as this was the best part of my year so far. Iffah Zenaidee Backstage BACKSTAGE TEAM

8 How can I sum up what being involved in BSC s High School Musical has done for my child? Let s start with the social. Mixing with all year levels elevated his social status to something better and bigger than any social media scheme can offer. It didn t seem to matter if you had a minor role, the down time you may have had was spent conversing, laughing, and interacting. When it came to pick up time you really sensed the community spirit. Speaking of community, there are three families in our street who were involved in the production. The odd car pools have been raucous with Get cha Head in the Game and always there beside me. Oh well, We re All In This Together! The weekend spent in rehearsal meant, for some adults, a childfree weekend. After delivering her children to the camp, Libby Heywood stopped her car and remarked with incredible enthusiasm, I love BSC, when are they starting up the boarding house?! For my son the weekend was so much fun that he couldn t believe when he turned up at school on Monday other students questioned if he wanted to be back! The drama team of Ms Eastwood, Mr Tranter and Dr Maguire is the Dream Team. They have worked tirelessly and without complaint, in fact they were so blooming cheerful you d think they love their jobs. I have to say one of the most important aspects of the whole experience was watching my son become focused and determined to do a good job. He knew he also had to keep up his work practices as told by the drama team. Ms Eastwood had cautioned students they may feel flat when the show was all over. I was so grateful when I heard my son talking to his aunt on the phone about how he thought he might be sad - but then why should he be when he s had the most wonderful time of his life! Sheila Calwell BSC Parent After 9 years of being a proud BSC parent, I can honestly say that every year gets better. HSM is one more example of the ongoing commitment to excellence championed by a dedicated teaching team and a very talented student body! Thank you all for a wonderful evening of entertainment. Caroline Farah BSC Parent PARENTCOMMENTS The High School Musical Company should be very proud of themselves. They demonstrated not only their diverse talents, dedication and enthusiasm, but also the unique Brunswick Spirit. All students have risen to their individual challenges to achieve their personal best in singing, dancing, acting and dressing like their characters, playing in the bands or doing all sorts of things behind the scene in relation to the sets, lighting or sound. It is obvious that even students who had minor roles or were in the chorus played their roles seriously at a level comparable to those with lead roles. My friends from the United States were very impressed by the American accent that adopted by the students and they thought the roles of Coach Bolton and Miss Darbus were played by real teachers! Playing the challenging role of Carmen in last year s production of Fame: The Musical was a steep learning curve for Larissa because she had no previous training in acting and she had to stretch her singing and dancing skills. This year, Larissa had so much fun playing one of the cheerleaders and Kelsi. Her new challenge was having costume change in as little as 30 seconds! She was delighted that her father, at the first sight, failed to recognise his own daughter from a photo of her dressing as the quirky Kelsi. I am very grateful that Larissa, as Performing Arts Captain, has had the chance to work closely with a team of talented and dedicated teachers who are true professionals. When the curtain came down, I felt a bit sad that it was the end of Larissa s last school production, but it will not be her last performance. She wants to continue her journey of performing at university, singing, dancing, acting or cheerleading if possible - performing on stage can be addictive! Monica Lai BSC Parent

9 TEACHERSCOMMENTS High School Musical was simply amazing. To see so many students from different year levels working together to produce such a professional show was a real joy. Congratulations to all involved. Warren Evert BSC Teacher A highly entertaining show with some stand out performances by BSC students. Freddy Stringer BSC Teacher The focus and camaraderie shown by students both backstage and onstage was at a professional level. It was a joy to see the pride they felt in their achievement. Heather Secomb Assistant Principal I took my Year 8 son and his friend, and my 7 year old daughter along to the show. They were all thoroughly entertained. As a teacher, it is a wonderful opportunity to see our students shine in a different setting! Rosalie Fourniotis BSC Teacher

10 High School Musical was a fantastic experience. I was part of the Core Band with Rezzzaaa, Jezza, Xavier (XXX), Tobes and William (shout out to Keanu Reeves and Jorde too). I know that I have five friends which will stick together for life! My musical skills have improved out of sight (especially with the super duper, high, high notes). I m sure I ll be doing the musical again (especially if the musical is Shane Warne: the Musical!) Thank you, Kathleen, for teaching me so much!!!! Ben Carroll Band THEMUSIC

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16 The Musicians Last year Bridget Pennington was the only student who played in the band. This year we had 6 students in the core band and 20 students in our shiny, showy marching band! Now that s progress. The after party FROMTHE PRINCIPAL Brunswick Secondary College s second whole school production, High School Musical on Stage, was truly outstanding. The end of each performance brought enthusiastic applause from delighted audiences. As the finale curtain fell, the mood back stage was jubiliant. At the after party a few weeks later, the shared pride and elation still pumped. My whole-hearted congratulations to each and every student. It seems hard to believe that High School Musical is only our second whole school production. With a history of only two musicals, BSC has quickly developed a reputation for excellence in the performing arts. Both Fame and High School Musical were such professional and impressive productions. I would like to share a few thoughts on what made this year extra special for me. The number of students involved - This year the Company doubled in size to 82 students. I have been told so many times that it takes a number of years to really establish a production. Not so! The Teamwork As in any great team, each member contributed to the success of the whole by confidently performing their part. It was excellence all around. Words cannot adequately convey the students shared pride in their achievement. The quality of the teaching and teacher collaboration that led up to this success is simply outstanding. Tracie Eastwood, Nick Tranter and Kathleen Maguire featured in a Bastow Institute photo series earlier this year called Teachers as Heroes. And they are! Not only because the performance was so fantastic but because of their dedication to, and belief in, bringing out the best in every child. Actors, singers, dancers, back stage crew members and set designers each learned and achieved more than they could have ever imagined possible. Each member of the company developed in confidence and skills. Each will take with them memories and a sense of achievement that will endure well beyond the performance and their time in our school. I am already looking forward to next year s whole school production and before this, the junior production of Seussical the Musical. Vivienne Tellefson Principal Teamwork