THE PROGRAM
As part of our co-curricular program, Hillcrest Christian College provides specialised tuition across the performing arts that is outside the normal school curriculum. This program is available to all students and is mostly administered during normal school hours at the College for your convenience. The program is designed to complement the curriculum music education which can be significantly enhanced through engaging in these lessons with our team of specialist music tutors.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
― PLATO ―
TUITION
LESSON LENGTH AND FEES
There are 32 weeks of tuition per year with 16 weeks in each semester. Once application for lessons is received, tutors will contact you to arrange a suitable lesson time for your child. All lessons are arranged directly between tutors and families. Lessons will, in general, be held during school hours. Private lessons: $41/30 minutes
Paired lessons: $28/30 minutes – if a suitable pairing option is available (not available for Piano, Voice or Drums).
Group lessons: $14/30 minutes – Music Theory
ABSENCES
In the case of illness on the day of a lesson, please inform your tutor by 7am (by phone, email, or text). If the tutor is notified by 7am, they will make every effort to arrange a catch-up lesson. If the tutor is not notified by 7am, arranging a catch-up lesson is not always possible. For reasons other than illness, if the tutor does not receive notice of absence at least 24 hours before the time of the lesson, then it will be charged. If a student fails to turn up for a lesson and no notice is given, the lesson will be charged, and the tutor is not obliged to schedule a make-up lesson. Please note that group lessons cannot be made up
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Tuition fees are billed by the Tutor each term and must be paid on time for lessons to continue. Lessons can only be discontinued at the end of a term. Tutors require notice in writing from a parent or guardian at least two weeks prior to the end of term if their child is withdrawing. Cancellation mid-term will result in forfeiting fees paid.
ENROLMENT PROCESS
The online enrolment form can be found underthe Performing Arts on the Hillcrest website. Please click here for the direct link.
TUITION OPTIONS
Piano – from Prep
Violin – from Prep
Guitar – from Year 3
Drums – from Year 4
Viola – from Year 4
Cello – from Year 4
All other instruments from Year 5:
Voice Music Theory
Flute Clarinet
Saxophone Trumpet
Trombone Euphonium
Bass Guitar Percussion
Double Bass
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES
Year 4 Prelude Strings (Beginner Ensemble)
Year 5 Beginner Band
Year 6 Graeme Koehne Wind Ensemble (Foundational)
Corelli Strings (Foundational)
Clara Schumann Concert Band (Intermediate)
Vivaldi Strings (Intermediate)
John Williams Wind Orchestra (Advanced)
Paganini Strings (Advanced)
Bill Evans Big Band
Rock Band (MLC & SLC)
Drumline
ATTENDANCE AND PRACTISE EXPECTATIONS
Being a member of a music ensemble means being committed to the group for the full year. We recognise that each person in a group like this has an important role to play and as such, the whole group relies upon the 100% commitment of every member. This is collaboration at its best. Withdrawals are generally not accepted throughout the year.
CHORAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAM
Poco Voce
Years 5-6
Bella Voce
Years 7-8 Treble Voices
Bel Canto
Years 9-12 Girls
MANCHOIR
Boys with Changed Voices
CHOIRS FOR EVERYONE
JLC
Year 2 Choir
Year 3 Choir
Year 4 Choir
MLC
Years 5-6 Choir
Year 7-8 Middle Years Choir
SLC
Senior Choir
SPECIALIST CHOIRS
Hillcrest Blokes (for treble boys from Year 2)
PERFORMANCES
The professional appearance of our performance groups is highly important. The standard dress for music ensembles in the College is the full school uniform including navy stockings for girls, and blazers for senior students. Some ensembles wear a performance uniform.
STAFF
Dr. Robert Stewart Director of Performance
Claire Preston
Kathryn George
Nic Gemmell
Tammy Kilpatrick
Head of Choral and Vocal Studies
Music Teacher
Music Teacher
Music Teacher
Athol Henderson Drama Teacher
Amy Hacker
Stevie Moore
Anthony Kissick
Performing Arts Administration
Performing Arts Administration
Production Manager
PERFORMING ARTS TUTORS
Lachlan O’Keefe
Ingeborg Lass
Martin Lass
Band Coordinator & Percussion Tutor lokeefe@hillcrest.qld.edu.au
Piano Coordinator & Tutor ilass@hillcrest.qld.edu.au
String Coordinator & Tutor mlass@hillcrest.qld.edu.au
Samantha Fiddes Voice & Theory of Music
Amanda Hutton Voice
Rosie Bedford-Lintott Flute
Andrew Mitchelson Guitar & Bass Guitar
Jonathan Dethan Guitar & Bass Guitar
Alfredo Lopes Saxophone & Clarinet
Lawson McGuiness Brass
Jo Byrnes Piano
Kylie Loveland Piano
Julie Watson Piano
Jessica Charles
Jan Boniwell
CONTACT
Strings
Speech & Drama
For more information on any of our music programs, please email: performingarts@hillcrest.qld.edu.au
To enrol your child CLICK HERE or scan the QR Code below.
PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES
Tech Crew
The Student Production Team (“Tech Crew”) supports College events through all aspects of technical production. Students have hands-on training and experience in audio, lighting, and vision production for a variety of different events. Students are able to develop their skills at chapel services, concerts, and other events. Students also have opportunities to explore set design and construction and scenic art for the annual College Musical.
Speech and Drama
Speech and Drama lessons are available to all students at the College. This program builds confidence, improves communication skills, and is designed to suit specific needs, talent, and interest. Our tutor also specialises in working with those who don’t speak English as their first language. Performers up to 13 years can participate in the Somerset Festival for Young Performers. All Students can participate in the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts and the Gold Coast Eisteddfod. Fifth Grade or above AMEB examinations while Years 10 to 12 have the results on their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
Musical
The College produces a high-quality musical every year Combining the talents of our dance, drama, instrumental, choral, and tech students, the Musical has become an anticipated part of the College Calendar. Auditions are held in term 3 and rehearsals begin in Term 4 for a production the following May. The 2024 production of “Guys and Dolls” is a story of New York in the 1950s, full of colourful characters and a tale of love and redemption.
Dance
The Hillcrest Dance Program is an established cocurricular activity with students participating in weekly rehearsals. Students are exposed to a variety of dance styles. All skill levels are welcome with students given the opportunity to develop their technique. Our Dancers have the opportunity to compete in teams with choreographed routines at local Eisteddfods as well as learn from industry professional guest choreographers.
Drama
Every year Hillcrest competes and excels in the Gold Coast Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival. The festival is run over three sections (Junior, Intermediate, and Senior) and nine evenings throughout the month of August. Approximately 25 schools present upward of 40 dramatic works. The festival has been running for more than 50 years and is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in Australia. The Gold Coast Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival Mission Statement is, “to foster and acknowledge excellence in dramatic performance by Secondary School students throughout the region of the Gold Coast in an atmosphere of friendly competition”.
Annual Events
• Eisteddfods, Festivals, and Tours: Every year Hillcrest is represented at various eisteddfods, competitions, and festivals throughout the Gold Coast area and beyond.
Our bands, string ensembles, dance teams, and choirs regularly compete in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod. The Drama Ensembles compete annually in Dramafest showcasing some of the finest young actors on the Gold Coast. Our choirs have participated in PicFest (USA), World Vision International Children’s Choral Festival (South Korea), Festival of Voices (Hobart).
• Choral Extravaganza is one of the largest events in the College Calendar. It is an opportunity to showcase all of our wonderful choirs and celebrate our singing culture with the entire College community
• Choral Excellence:
• Choral Camp is our annual retreat to Mt Tamborine where we work with a guest clinician and begin learning our repertoire for the year. It is an opportunity for students to develop new friendships through a variety of fun team building activities.
• Choral Excellence Tours are local, interstate, and international opportunities for our Choral Excellence Program to perform in festivals, competitions, and special projects within the wider Choral community
21 Bridgman Drive, Reedy Creek Qld 4227 PO Box 2503, Burleigh Waters Qld 4220 +61 7 5593 4226 office@hillcrest.qld.edu.au
hillcrest.qld.edu.au