Performing Arts
VCE Solos and Monos
Theatre and Drama are thrillingly unique subjects, demanding full immersion, creativity and fearless expression. They bring stories to life through transforming the classroom into a world of possibilities. Every rehearsal and performance is a new adventure. This week, our VCE Drama and Theatre students presented their monologues and devised solos to external assessors — a thrilling yet challenging process that showcases their skill at creating original theatre. Huge congratulations to our dedicated cohort of performers, designers, and the parents and teachers who worked tirelessly to support them every step of the way. Next up is VCE Dance, and we wish all our dancers the very best.
2025 Senior School productions announcement
We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Senior School musical and play.
Each year, Haileybury offers two mainstage performance opportunities to our Years 9–12 students from City, Brighton, Berwick and Keysborough campuses. In 2024, over 150 students took part, drawing in an audience of more than 3,500. We can’t wait for another exciting year of presenting outstanding theatre.
Rehearsals are held on Fridays from 4.00pm – 6.30 pm, Sundays from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, and during the final week of April holidays, for a performance in early May.
Auditions are scheduled for mid-November. Please email Nick Waxman to express your interest.
Our 2025 musical promises to be an all-singing, all-dancing crowd-pleaser that will delight audiences.
And our Senior School play is equally exciting. Look out for auditions in May 2025, as we gear up to be one of the first schools to present:
Nick Waxman
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Music
Chamber in the Chapel showcases senior small ensembles
As a very busy term began last week, the Music Department celebrated an outstanding night of orchestral chamber music at the Chamber in the Chapel concert held on Thursday evening, 10 October.
An admiring audience enjoyed performances by our finest small ensemble musicians.
Events like Chamber in the Chapel highlight the stylistic diversity available to our music students. The way all students held themselves, coupled with the high standard of musical delivery, was a pleasure to witness.
Special thanks must go to Mr Thomas Heywood, the compere for the evening. Mr Heywood’s knowledge and passion for classical music was plain to see and hear by the very appreciative audience.
VCE Music students prepare for final performance exams
During the recent Term 3 holiday break VCE music students were busily completing final rehearsals for their upcoming Unit 4 performance examinations. The rehearsals continued throughout the first week of this term. For most students, these performance exams were completed in the week just passed.
For the practical performance assessment students are required to present a 20-minute recital program to a panel of external VCAA assessors. The exams represent a significant high point in the musical journey of these elite students, most of whom began instrumental lessons at Haileybury in Junior School.
Across their developmental journey these students will have likely received 300 instrumental lessons and attended over 500 ensemble rehearsals. These students will have performed to literally thousands of people at more than 100 concerts across their performance careers.
Within any VCE cohort there will always be a range of personalities, profiles and characters; some students will appear naturally talented while others will work extremely hard to rise above obstacles. Whatever the profile, most students will have completed more than 3,000 hours practice in the long lead-up to these final exams.
This year, like every year, we have enjoyed a diverse range of instrumental and stylistic disciplines within the VCE Music cohort. The 2024 cohort includes contemporary voice, classical voice, piano, electric bass, percussion, violin, drumkit, electric guitar, flute, trumpet and saxophone.
My heartfelt thanks go to the instrumental staff who not only give of their time and expertise but also their unwavering passion to provide access to the highest possible musical experiences education can provide.
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
Visual Arts
Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition
The 2024 Graduate Art Exhibition opened this week, celebrating the incredible talent and hard work of our graduating students from across our campuses, including HRS Darwin and Pangea, our online school. This exhibition beautifully exemplified our One Haileybury approach, showcasing how the collaboration of our multi-campus school enriches the artistic experience for all students.
The opening on 15 October was a memorable evening, featuring inspiring speeches from our Art Captains, Eve and Siddhanta , who shared their artistic journeys and the inspirations behind their works. Vice Principal, Mr Scott Doran officially opened the exhibition, highlighting the vital role that the Arts play in our school community.
Attendees enjoyed mingling with the artists, engaging in meaningful conversations, and witnessing an impressive array of creations.
In an era that values innovation and creativity, the arts are pivotal in shaping well-rounded individuals. This year’s exhibition featured a diverse range of works spanning VCE Media, Visual Communication and Design, Product Design Technology, and Art Making and Exhibiting.
By showcasing this rich tapestry of creativity, we highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the arts and its profound impact on shaping the future leaders and thinkers emerging from our School.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating the remarkable artistic achievements of our seniors and for supporting the thriving arts culture at Haileybury.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
Pipes & Drums
Full steam ahead
Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming competition season at Haileybury Pipes & Drums. The band recently held an intensive camp at Camp Oasis, where students gathered to rehearse new material for the 2025 season. The camp was a great opportunity for focused practice, team bonding and refining techniques, setting a strong foundation for the months ahead.
This year sees many players stepping up to new challenges, with several students advancing from the C, B and A bands respectively. This progression showcases the growth and development within the group, ensuring that Haileybury remains a competitive force across all levels whilst also giving students the opportunity to tackle more challenging and gratifying music.
The band also drew inspiration from watching the World Pipe Band Championships (livestreamed from Glasgow), where they listened to the world’s finest pipe bands perform. It was particularly thrilling to see Field Marshal Montgomery open their new medley with ‘Antietam’, a tune composed by Haileybury’s own pipes tutor, Tom Perry. Witnessing this connection on the world stage served as a motivating reminder of the excellence they aim to achieve.
With new music, higher levels of ambition and a new generation coming through the ranks, Haileybury Pipes & Drums is ready for what lays ahead in the 2025 pipe band competition season.
Thank you & Farewell
After many wonderful years at Haileybury, I will be finishing up as Director of the program on Friday, 1 November, as my wife and I are relocating to New South Wales. This has been a very difficult decision, as I’ve cherished my time teaching and seeing the program flourish over my 17 years at the school (including the three years as a student). To the students, it has been an honour to watch you grow and develop as musicians and people, achieving incredible milestones like our world championship win and seeing the growth of not just the A band, but the B and C bands too. To the parents, thank you so much for all of your support over the years— it has meant the world to me and has been instrumental in helping the program succeed.
I want to reassure you that the future remains bright for Haileybury’s program. Daniel Staley will be stepping in as Acting Director starting 1 November, and I have complete confidence that the program will continue to flourish under his guidance. There are many exciting opportunities ahead for all students, and I’ll be cheering you on from afar.
If you'd like to stay updated on my future piping projects, follow my personal brand Modern Piping on social media where I’ll be sharing new bagpipe music and instruments frequently. For years I've been working on a special bagpipe project designing and making my own practice chanter. This was truly inspired by years of teaching all of my students of different skill levels and personalities. I'm incredibly grateful for these experiences, which have shaped this new practice chanter and my journey. It's been a special project and if you'd like to check it out, you can view it here.
It has been an absolute privilege to be part of this journey with the entire Haileybury community. Thank you for making this experience so memorable and for all the support you have shown me during my time as Director.
Lincoln Hilton
Director, Pipes & Drums
