2012 Showcase spectacular ‘captivates’ audiences

The showcase is the culmination of student ensemble work across the Dioceseof Parramatta

Students in the 'Strings Things' program were supported in their performance by the professional ensemble of the CAPITVATE strings tutors

More than 950 students from 23 primary and 17 secondary Catholic schools in western Sydney showcased their creative talents in a series of music, dance, strings and drama performances throughout June. 

Held over 10 days at Nagle College, Blacktown, the annual showcase presents the culmination of student ensemble work across the Diocese of Parramatta through Catholic Education’s creative and performing arts initiative, CAPTIVATE.

The CAPTIVATE Music showcase on Wednesday 20 June and Thursday 21 June featured the talents of the combined schools music program. The combined primary choir, combined secondary choir, combined secondary ensemble and chamber ensemble featured Australian works as well as music in English, Latin and Japanese. The showcase also included individual student performances.

The CAPTIVATE Dance showcase was held on Saturday 23 June and highlighted the talent of students from primary and secondary schools under the theme ‘It’s all about dance’.  The night included performances by the contemporary dance ensemble and commercial dance ensemble as well as individual student performances.

The CAPTIVATE Strings showcase was held on Tuesday 26 June. The presentation featured primary and secondary students involved in the ‘Strings Things’ program playing arrangements of well-known works including Pirates of the Caribbean, Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring and Jupiter from Holst’s The Planets supported in the performance by the professional ensemble of CAPITVATE strings tutors.

The CAPTIVATE Drama showcase was held Thursday 28 June, Friday 29 June and Saturday 30 June. Featuring 14 students from St Andrew’s College, Marayong, Nagle College, Blacktown, Catherine McAuley Westmead and McCarthy Catholic College, Emu Plains the students performed a variety of contemporary, classic and spiritual pieces as well as 10 ‘mini-plays’ written and performed by the ensemble.

Catholic Education’s director system learning, Sue Walsh, said she was impressed with the talent and quality of the student performances.

‘What has really blown me away is the opportunity for our students in western Sydney,’ said Sue. ‘To work with extraordinary professionals who are passionate and knowledgeable about music, dance and drama gives our students an experience that they wouldn’t get to the same scale in their individual schools.’

‘It also creates an opportunity for our entertainment students from our vocational programs to achieve learning outcomes,’ she said. ‘So instead of reading about it in a book or sitting in a classroom and working out how you do it, they are actually doing it in real time, in the real world. It is an extraordinary opportunity.’

‘The performance spectacular is as grand as anything you would see on television,’ Sue said. ‘All the capabilities we talk about in 21^st century learning are evident in the collaboration, skills sets and team work CAPITVATE is bringing.’

On Tuesday 7 August, the Riverside Theatre will host CAPTIVATE’s ‘Best of’ Silver Jubilee presentation celebrating the 25^th anniversary of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Parramatta. The night will present the ‘best of’ the Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Arts work by students in the CAPTIVATE program and individual student performances from around the Diocese.

To view more photos from the showcase visit the CAPTIVATE FACEBOOK page. Photos by David Tang.

For more information and bookings see https://boxoffice.riversideparramatta.com.au www.parra.catholic.edu.au/captivate

Primary Schools:

• St Michael’s Primary, Baulkham Hills
• St Michael’s Primary, Blacktown South
• Chisholm Catholic Primary, Bligh Park
• St Bernadette’s Primary, Castle Hill
• Our Lady of the Way Primary, Emu Plains
• St Finbar’s Primary, Glenbrook
• Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary, Greystanes
• St Oliver’s Primary, Harris Park
• Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, Kellyville
• St Madeleine’s Primary, Kenthurst
• St Joseph’s Primary, Kingswood
• St Andrew’s Primary, Marayong
• Sacred Heart Primary, Mount Druitt South
• Christ the King Primary, North Rocks
• Mary MacKillop Primary, Penrith South
• Good Shepherd Primary, Plumpton
• St Monica’s Primary, Richmond
• St Aiden’s Primary, Rooty Hill
• Our Lady of the Angels Primary, Rouse Hill
• St Joseph’s Primary, Schofields
• Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Seven Hills
• St Thomas Aquinas Primary, Springwood
• Blessed John XXIII Primary, Stanhope Gardens

• Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown
• Nagle College, Blacktown South
• Gilroy Catholic College, Castle Hill
• McCarthy Catholic College, Emu Plains
• Caroline Chisholm College, Glenmore Park
• Delany College, Granville
• St Paul’s Catholic College, Greystanes
• St Clare’s Catholic High School, Hassal Grove
• Emmaus Catholic College, Kemps Creek
• Marian College, Kenthurst
• St Andrew’s College, Marayong
• Loyola Senior High School, Mount Druitt
• Terra Sancta College, Quakers Hill/Schofield
• St Columba’s High School, Springwood
• Catherine McAuley Westmead
• Parramatta Marist High, Westmead
• Bede Polding College, Windsor South

The combined primary choir, secondary choir, secondary ensemble and chamber ensemble featured Australian works as well as music in English, Latin and Japanese

Students performed a variety of contemporary, classic and spiritual pieces as well as 10 ‘mini-plays’ written and performed by the ensemble.

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