Creative Avenues
Melrose High School students have opportunities to participate in a range of areas involving creativity and performance. Our school has a very strong Music program with students able to study Music as a class subject as well as being a member of the school band. Music students perform at Soirees during the year, join with our local primary school bands for a workshop session each year and participate in the ACT Concert Band Festival and at other venues.
Students audition at the end of semester 1 Year 10 to join the Performance Drama class for the final semester of Year 10. This class is responsible for the major Drama performance late in the school year. During the year, students show their talents through presentations to the school community, local primary schools, script and characterisation nights, community drama festivals, Floriade and Entertainment Night. Entertainment Evening is open to all students in the school. Students audition for a spot in the program and competition is extremely strong.
Melrose High School is involved in the Dance Festival held during term 3. This activity is both an extra-curricular one for interested students and a class for Year 10 students. Due to a strong response to the extra curricular program, auditions are held during term 2 and successful participants then rehearse during term 3. For more information visit the links below. Students also can study dance as an elective and as part of the electives rotation. In 2006 the school took part in Wakakirri for the first time.
The Instrumental Music Program
- The Concert Band
- The Jazz Band
- The Beginner Band
- Performance Opportunities
- Music Camp
- Drama Productions
- Drama Camp
- Entertainment Night
- Art Displays
- Vocal Group
- Other Groups
The Instrumental Music Program
Private lessons are available from highly qualified teachers on flute, clarinet and saxophone in the Music Teaching Studio on the Ground Floor. Tuition on other instruments is at the studio of the teacher. Music staff can provide details. Payment for lessons (approximately $25 per lesson) is a private arrangement between the teacher and the student.
The Concert Band
The Concert Band is open to all students in Years 7 to 10 who have been playing a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument for at least one year. This group plays a wide variety of music suitable for this combination of instruments. Rehearsals are held out of school time, usually straight after school one afternoon each week.
The Jazz Band
The Jazz Band is also open to students from all years. Students have the opportunity to work on popular jazz repertoire and improvisation. Rehearsals are held out of school time and students perform at functions, such as school assemblies, Soirees and Presentation Night, throughout the school year.
The Beginner Band
The Beginner Band draws its players from students in the Year 7 Instrumental Music class.
Performance Opportunities
All these groups perform at community festivals as well as for local primary students. The Travelling Troubadours, a combination of Drama and Music groups, visit various primary schools.
Music Camp
Students in the Instrumental Music Program, the School Bands and the Vocal Group, attend the annual Music Camp, which is usually held in May. Students spend three days practising and rehearsing in preparation for Entertainment Night, ACT Concert Band Festival and other community or school performances.
Drama Productions
There is a very active drama department at Melrose High School and many performances are staged throughout the year. These include minor performances for invited classes to Drama entertainment evenings, featuring Years 9 and 10. These events provide students with the chance to demonstrate their talents to parents. Years 9 and 10 students visit feeder primary schools with a specially planned show and participate in community festivals like Floriade, Burning Boards and Class Clowns and other venues by invitation. Year 10 Performance Drama students present a major play for a three-night season at the end of the year.
Drama Camp
Students in the Year 10 Performance Drama class attend this camp in term 3 as a start to preparations for the major performance late in term 4. Specialist Drama tutors are available at the camp to assist students to enhance their skills.
Entertainment Night
Entertainment Night is held in either term 2 or 3, usually at Erindale Theatre. Students from all years audition for a place in the program. All forms of creative performance are presented, with students also involved in the backstage and front of house operations.
Art Displays
Art works produced by Melrose High School students are constantly displayed around the school, at functions held in the school and occasional community venues. Students are encouraged to enter their works in student Art shows and past students have received many awards for their work. Students also have the opportunity to have their work selected for display in the Artists' Gallery on the school web site.
The Vocal Group
The Vocal Group is open to all students, from all years, who are interested in learning a wide range of musical styles. Rehearsals are held as part of the lunchtime activities program and the students perform at Soirees, Entertainment Night and community festivals.
Other Groups
Melrose High School actively encourages players of string instruments and recorders to form ensembles and perform at concerts and soirees. Students with an interest in rock music also form their own bands. These groups practise as part of the lunchtime activities program.
