Dear Parents,

Catholic Performing Arts Festival

2018 is the 29^th year of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival where students from Catholic schools across the state have the opportunity to showcase artistic performances through a variety of art mediums such as dance, music, speech and song. Recently Siena S.,  and Maddison H., (Year 6 students), Mrs Lola Stewart and myself attended the Catholic Performing Arts Festival Opening Mass where we participated in a beautiful liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe which was punctuated with magnificent artistic expressions of faith by various Catholic schools such as a dramatised Gospel reading, a liturgical movement and hymns led by both a band and choir. At the conclusion of the Mass, Dr Debra Sayce, CEWA acting Executive Director, opened this year’s festival and acknowledged the importance of the arts in education to allow students to express both their faith and creativity as well as enhancing their artistic gifts and talents.

We have a variety of festival performances scheduled over the coming weeks by numerous individuals and groups of St. Michael’s students. Upcoming group performances include:

• Sacred Choral Singing on 7 August at 11.30am at St Benedict’s, Applecross (Choir)
• Primary Choral Singing on 16 August at 9.30am at the Vasto Club, Balcatta (Choir)
• Choral Speech on 29 August at 9.15am at the Morley Recreation Centre (Year 4)

Please note there is a small admission charge at venues.

• The festival will conclude with the annual concert at the Perth Concert Hall on Monday 10 September which is always a spectacular event with a selection of performances from across the festival invited to showcase their talents. Concert tickets can be purchased directly from the concert hall from 6 August: perthconcerthall.com.au or 9231 9999.

Congratulations to the following students who have already received individual awards for their performances at the festival:

• Alexander J. (Yr  5)   – Merit Award – Primary Piano Performance
• Augustin P. (Yr 4)     – Excellence Award – Instrumental Solo (Primary Strings)
• Christi P. (Yr 6)          – Outstanding Award – Instrumental Solo (Primary Strings)

Best of luck to all St Michael’s students who are yet to perform and thank you to Mrs Lola Stewart, Mrs Doreen Panizza and all classroom teachers involved for their hard work and support of this event!

Mrs Siobhan Galos
Principal