Hunter School of the Performing Arts

Hunter School of the Performing Arts

Each of us is responsible for our own destiny
Location
Broadmeadow, New South Wales
Australia
Coordinates 32°55′30″S 151°43′42″E / 32.92500°S 151.72833°E / -32.92500; 151.72833Coordinates: 32°55′30″S 151°43′42″E / 32.92500°S 151.72833°E / -32.92500; 151.72833
Information
Type State school, Performing arts, 2–12, Day school
Established 1923
Principal Richard Jennings
Enrolment c. 1,160[1]
Campus Suburban
Colour(s) Jade, purple, black
              
Website http://www.hspa.nsw.edu.au

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.

History

The school has undergone many name changes since its first day in July, 1923.

As a technical school

As a general High School

As a performing arts school

A notable moment in this school's recent history was the June 2007 Hunter Region and Central Coast storms.

The Hunter School of the Performing Arts was one of the most severely affected schools in the area. The school suffered a large amount of damage; the entire bottom level was washed away and the school's library was severely affected.

Motto and colours

The original motto 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.[2]

The original colours of the school were those of the 35th Battalion ("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.

Stage

Drama students of the school have appeared in OnStage (showcasing the best of HSC Drama group and individual performances) and the regional, state and national Shakespeare 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.

The most recent of HSPA's productions is The Lion King Jr, which was performed by the primary school

Music

The school is home to a number of musical ensembles. Two concert bands, a number of choirs, string orchestra, two stage bands, a marching show band and percussion ensemble are well known within the school and community and frequently perform at festivals, parades, ceremonies and competitions.

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ HSPA Annual Report 2004 (accessed: 25 April 2006)
  2. ↑ "A Brief History"
  3. ↑ "Actress debuts on Ben Elton's show" by Amy Edwards, The Newcastle Herald, 21 February 2011
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