PERFORMING ARTS

Term 3 in Performing Arts marks the culmination of a year of dedicated preparation, with students’ hard work now coming to life on stage through a range of major events. Since the start of 2026, students across year levels have been rehearsing, refining technique, and building ensemble skills for this important term. 

Highlights include the school’s first-ever Junior School production, the annual Winter Concert, multiple instrumental evenings, and participation in the Victorian Schools Music Festival.

In instrumental music, Ms Grace James and Mr Paschal Lee will be sharing percussion teaching duties following the recent retirement of Mr Golovko. We wish them well and look forward to continued excellence in the percussive world

ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT

Friday 14 August 6:30pm start

Robert Blackwood Hall

Monash University

49 Scenic Blvd, Clayton VIC 3800

The Annual Winter Concert is a highlight of McKinnon’s Performing Arts calendar, showcasing the talents of our choirs, orchestras and bands. Tickets have sold out due to overwhelming demand, but we are exploring the possibility of releasing additional tickets and will let families know if this becomes available. 

If you missed out, we encourage families to sign up to the WAITLIST and you will be notified if any tickets become available.

For the first time, we also plan to live broadcast the concert, with details to follow closer to the date. As rehearsals enter their final stages, students are working hard to deliver a polished performance, and we thank parents for their ongoing support in helping make the concert a success.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES

CONGRATULATIONS -  MINI MUSICAL

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Into The Woods Jnr on three wonderful performances over the weekend.

The talented cast brought their characters vividly to life, delivering a polished and thoroughly enjoyable production. Congratulations to all students involved on such an impressive performance.

Thank you also to the production team for their creative leadership, and to the staff who gave so many hours behind the scenes to bring this production to life: Lucy Angell, Ellie Adler, Tom Baldwin, Miranda Barber, Michael Birkett, Caleb Goldwaser and Genevieve Grose.

ORCHESTRAL EXPLOITS

McKinnon Orchestra began Term 3 with two outstanding performances. Their first was at the General Assembly at East Campus, where they performed Assassin by Muse, arranged specifically for the ensemble by conductor Ms Lindsay Ryan. This was followed on Friday 31 July by their participation in the VSMF, where they delivered a spellbinding performance and were awarded Gold.

Earlier in the week, Chamber Strings, under the baton of Head of Instrumental Music Clare Bugeja, also kicked off the VSMF season with a fine performance.

These achievements reflect the ensembles’ dedication, musical growth, and commitment to excellence. Congratulations to all students for their hard work and continued development throughout the term.

MUSIC ON THE EDGE - WIND SYMPHONY AND INTERMEDIATE STAGE BAND

On Friday 24 July, McKinnon musicians took part in Music on the Edge at The Edge, Federation Square, a free festival hosted by Christian College Geelong. The day featured three public concerts and brought together ensembles from Christian College Geelong and the Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne Wind Ensemble.

McKinnon was proudly represented by Wind Symphony, conducted by Tracy Videon, and Intermediate Stage Band under the direction of Stuart Byrne. Travelling into the city by train, 50 McKinnon musicians contributed to a memorable day of performance. The ensembles presented a varied and captivating repertoire, carefully honed over their 2026 journey so far, and performed with energy, musicality and confidence.

Thank you to Mr Tim Rex and Mr Martin Lee for attending and providing support.

VICTORIAN STATE SCHOOLS SPECTACULAR REHEARSAL

Our Year 7 Victorian State Schools Spectacular Choir students recently attended the Mass Choir rehearsal at Melbourne Town Hall, joining over 1,000 students from government schools across Victoria. It was exciting to hear all the choir parts come together as students learned how their harmonies fit into the full performance.

The students are now looking forward to their next rehearsal in August, where they'll begin learning the choreography to accompany the songs before our three big days at John Cain Arena.

Well done to all of our Year 7 students for representing McKinnon so positively and professionally throughout the day - on the train, around the city and at the rehearsal. We are very proud of the way they represented the College.

A reminder to all the parents to book your tickets at www.ticketek.com.au/spectacular

Ms Laura Main

Instrumental Music Teacher

MCKINNON CLARINET QUINTET AT 35 YEAR SERVICE AWARDS

On Wednesday 15 July, the McKinnon Senior Clarinet Quintet, under directorship of Ms Laura Main had the honour of performing at the Department of Education's 35 Year Service Awards. The ensemble demonstrated outstanding commitment by rehearsing together specifically for the occasion and carefully selecting a repertoire that complemented the formal nature of the event.

The students represented McKinnon with professionalism, polish and maturity, earning praise for their performance and conduct throughout the ceremony. It was a particularly special occasion as they were able to celebrate the recognition of Mr Nutting, Mr Kan and Ms Hooper, who each received awards for 35 years of dedicated service to the Department of Education.

Congratulations and well done to Spencer Wu (Year 12), Xavier Lynch (Year 12), Chloe Jiang (Year 10), Sacha Rose (Year 10) and Ruma Lee (Year 10) for representing McKinnon so exceptionally. We are proud of your dedication and the outstanding contribution you made to this special event.

Ms Laura Main

Instrumental Music Teacher

HANDS-ON JAZZ IMPROVISATION AT EAST CAMPUS

On Friday 31 July, students at our East Campus took part in an engaging Junior Jazz Improvisation Workshop designed to spark curiosity and build confidence. Throughout the session, students explored the history of jazz, the structure of the blues, and began taking their first steps into improvisation. Through guided activities, they learned to read basic chord symbols, experiment with modes, and develop musical ideas in a supportive, hands-on environment.

The workshop was led by McKinnon alumni - saxophonist JJ Braithwaite and jazz trumpet performer and composer Yael Marks, whose expertise and enthusiasm inspired students to take creative risks. We extend our sincere thanks to them, as well as Mr Rex and Mr Lee for their outstanding performance as part of the house band.

We hope to continue offering opportunities like this, supporting our budding jazz musicians as they grow in confidence, creativity, and ensemble skills. Training and Junior Stage Band students will now apply these skills in upcoming rehearsals and performances.

UPCOMING EVENTS

With a variety of events occurring at school, we encourage families to look ahead on the calendar and Compass for any activities that require consent. Please also contact event organisers if you have conflicting commitments, as this helps us plan and coordinate more efficiently.

Dmitry Serebrianik

Learning Area Manager – Performing Arts