Hunter School of the Performing Arts
Encyclopedia
Hunter School of the Performing Arts (HSPA) is a public, co-educational, selective primary and secondary school
which offers a comprehensive curriculum with a performing arts specialty, located at Broadmeadow
, New South Wales
.
Although the Hunter School of the Performing Arts has a specialised curriculum based around drama, music and dance, students perform well with academic tasks. In 2007, Hunter School of the Performing Arts was listed among the top 200 schools for the HSC in New South Wales. Also in 2007, a team of students competed at the National Science and Engineering Challenge in Toowoomba, Queensland
, with the school ranked 13th in Australia for Scientific and Engineering.
A notable moment in this schools recent history was the 2007 June floods which struck the Hunter Valley. The Hunter School of the Performing Arts was one of the most severely affected schools in the area. A copious amount of damage was afflicted on the school, where the entire bottom level was washed away, and the school's library was severely affected.
was Advance, which changed after the school became a boys school in 1932 to Faber est suae quisque fortunae. The motto was changed in 1999 to its English form, Each of us is responsible for our own destiny.
("Newcastle's Own Regiment") of World War I
, green and brown. In later years it changed to green and white. In 1999, students were given a survey
in a bid for them to choose their own school colours; the students decided to choose jade, purple and black. To keep a link with the Newcastle colours, the new logo
(of the mask, dancer and bass clef) has been incorporated into a shield which also has a ribbon of brown and a ribbon of green.
Following the change in the school colours, a new school uniform
was introduced in 2000, with options ranging from formal to casual, including performance and sporting wear. In 2001, the school's Marching Band uniform changed to reflect this as well, formerly being green and gold, as opposed to the school colours of green and brown.
festival.
The Hunter School of the Performing Arts holds bi-annual musical productions. Past productions include Guys and Dolls
(1999), Little Shop of Horrors
(2001), Bye Bye Birdie (2003), The Pirates of Penzance
(2006, postponed due to the construction of the school's new theatre complex), West Side Story
(2008), and Les Miserables
(school edition) (2011)
In 2007, year ten presented their production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
, adapted from the screenplay of the famous comedy film. Their school theatre also performed A Little Night Music
.
In 2009, a production of Macbeth
was performed in late October, by students in year nine and ten. Other student productions include The Man With Five Children, The Crucible
and Rope.
s. Two concert band
s, a number of choir
s, string orchestra
, two stage bands, a marching show band and student based ensembles (trombone quartet, percussion ensemble, guitar ensemble, brass quartet, vocal groups, brass ensemble) are well known within the school and community and frequently perform at festivals, parades, ceremonies and competitions.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
which offers a comprehensive curriculum with a performing arts specialty, located at Broadmeadow
Broadmeadow, New South Wales
Broadmeadow is the geographic centre of Newcastle city. Its main commercial hub is located at the “Nineways”.-Origins:Broadmeadow was originally part of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve of 648 hectares...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Although the Hunter School of the Performing Arts has a specialised curriculum based around drama, music and dance, students perform well with academic tasks. In 2007, Hunter School of the Performing Arts was listed among the top 200 schools for the HSC in New South Wales. Also in 2007, a team of students competed at the National Science and Engineering Challenge in Toowoomba, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, with the school ranked 13th in Australia for Scientific and Engineering.
History
The school has undergone many name changes and changes of direction since its first day in July, 1923.- 1923–1926: Newcastle Junior Technical and Domestic Science School
- 1927–1931: Broadmeadow Junior Technical School
- 1932–1960: Newcastle Central Technical School
- 1961–1965: Broadmeadow Boys High School
- 1966–1975: Broadmeadow Boys School
- 1976–1992: Broadmeadow High School (co-educational)
- 1993–1997: The Broadmeadow School of Performing Arts
- 1998–present: Hunter School of the Performing Arts
A notable moment in this schools recent history was the 2007 June floods which struck the Hunter Valley. The Hunter School of the Performing Arts was one of the most severely affected schools in the area. A copious amount of damage was afflicted on the school, where the entire bottom level was washed away, and the school's library was severely affected.
School motto
The original mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
was Advance, which changed after the school became a boys school in 1932 to Faber est suae quisque fortunae. The motto was changed in 1999 to its English form, Each of us is responsible for our own destiny.
School colours
The original colours of the school were those of the 35th Battalion35th Battalion (Australia)
The 35th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Originally raised in late 1915 for service during the First World War, the battalion saw service on the Western Front in France and Belgium before being disbanded in 1919. In 1921 it was re-raised in the Newcastle region of New...
("Newcastle's Own Regiment") of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, green and brown. In later years it changed to green and white. In 1999, students were given a survey
Opinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
in a bid for them to choose their own school colours; the students decided to choose jade, purple and black. To keep a link with the Newcastle colours, the new logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
(of the mask, dancer and bass clef) has been incorporated into a shield which also has a ribbon of brown and a ribbon of green.
Following the change in the school colours, a new school uniform
School uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
was introduced in 2000, with options ranging from formal to casual, including performance and sporting wear. In 2001, the school's Marching Band uniform changed to reflect this as well, formerly being green and gold, as opposed to the school colours of green and brown.
Drama and productions
The Drama Faculty of the Hunter School of Performing Arts is a long standing and successful one. Drama students of the school have appeared in both OnStage (showcasing the best of HSC Drama group and individual performances) and the regional, state and national ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
festival.
The Hunter School of the Performing Arts holds bi-annual musical productions. Past productions include Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
(1999), Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors (musical)
Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
(2001), Bye Bye Birdie (2003), The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
(2006, postponed due to the construction of the school's new theatre complex), West Side Story
West Side Story
West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
(2008), and Les Miserables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
(school edition) (2011)
In 2007, year ten presented their production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
, adapted from the screenplay of the famous comedy film. Their school theatre also performed A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a literal English translation of the German name for Mozart's Serenade...
.
In 2009, a production of Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
was performed in late October, by students in year nine and ten. Other student productions include The Man With Five Children, The Crucible
The Crucible
The Crucible is a 1952 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists...
and Rope.
Music
The school is home to a number of musical ensembleMusical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
s. Two concert band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
s, a number of choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s, string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
, two stage bands, a marching show band and student based ensembles (trombone quartet, percussion ensemble, guitar ensemble, brass quartet, vocal groups, brass ensemble) are well known within the school and community and frequently perform at festivals, parades, ceremonies and competitions.
Notable alumni
- Benjamin McKenzie, Australian Idol 2007 finalist
- Charli DelaneyCharli DelaneySharlene Marie Zeta Robinson, known professionally as Charli Robinson and previously as Charli Delaney is an Australian singer, actress, radio presenter and children's performer....
, former Hi 5 member - Short StackShort StackShort Stack is a band from Budgewoi Short Stack is a band from Budgewoi Short Stack is a band from Budgewoi (on the 'Central Coast', New South Wales, Australia. The band consists of members, Shaun Diviney (lead vocals, electric guitar), Andy Clemmensen (backing vocals, bass), and Bradie Webb...
, Pop punkPop punkPop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
/Indie band (Winner of Channel VChannel VChannel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
's Oz Artist of the Year, 2008) - Rhys NicholsonRhys NicholsonRhys Nicholson is a comedian originally from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, now living in Sydney.He was a finalist of the Raw Comedy Award in 2009 and performed at the Sydney Comedy Festival in 2010....
, comedian, 2009 Grand Finalist in Raw Comedy Award
See also
- List of government schools in New South Wales
- List of creative and performing arts high schools in New South Wales