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Catholic Performing Arts Mass This year’s 32nd Performing Arts Festival (PAF) official opening was celebrated with a special Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. The ‘Praise and Worship Celebration’ was presided by the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation. The festival also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia (CECWA) and joined with the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and schools around the country to commemorate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. Catholic Arts received 2,423 entries, with 16,990 students participating in the festival in 2021. This year, 99 schools participated including 11 regional schools, competing in 32 different categories which were adjudicated from six disciplines - Drama & Speech, Dance, Instrumental Ensemble, Instrumental Solo/Duet, and Choral and Christian. The festival concluded with a concert held on Monday, 13 September at the RAC Arena. The Catholic Arts Committee was honoured to introduce “The Spirit of the Arts” celebrating the collective of 163 Western Australian Schools in a showcase of lunchtime concerts at Yagan Square, Forrest Place and Carnevale. Catholic Arts Chair, Darryl Winsor, said, “This year, we brought back Electronic Recordings due to the great response received in 2020 and the difficult situation of COVID. This allowed more schools and students an opportunity to be involved and participate in the Arts. Another first this year was the Angelico Art Exhibition for Primary and Secondary Students which was combined into one Exhibition held at the Forrest Centre in August. To all students involved in the festival, we hope they enjoyed a memorable festival.”
Issue 23 - December 2021 ◆ 19
