Performing & Visual Arts
Performing Arts
Performing Arts at Irene McCormack Catholic College allows students to develop and master their talents across a comprehensive curriculum in Music, Dance and Drama. This continues outside of the classroom with an extensive range of Ensembles, Bands, Teams, Clubs, Recitals, Concerts and Musical Theatre Productions.
Music
Music plays a central role at the College, with performances at many events such as Masses, Exhibitions, College celebrations and festivals, including the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. The College hosts four main concerts each year:
- Term 1 – Sounds at Sunset
- Term 2 – Recital Night
- Term 3 – Soundscape
- Term 4 – Sounds at Sunset
The College offers three Instrumental Scholarships available to students entering the College at Year 7. Scholarships cover students’ instrumental or vocal tuition for one year and will be renewed annually if all scholarship criteria is met. One scholarship is available for vocal students and two for students playing the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, or trombone.
A Specialist Music Course is available to students from Year 9, providing students with an excellent foundation with which to succeed in senior school.
Extra-curricular Music ensembles include Irene’s Voices, Flute Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Mass Band, Rock Bands for each year group, Swing Band and Wind Ensembles. The Swing Band also plays music live for the College Production every two years.
The College also offers instrumental lessons and instrument hire (subject to availability), as part of the Instrumental Program in Piano, Drums, Guitar and Bass, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Cello and Voice.
Drama
Drama is offered as an elective in Years 7 to 10 and is a subject that has a positive impact on physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. There are many educational and social benefits for students studying drama including building confidence, developing creativity, improving verbal and non-verbal communication skills, fostering a sense of empathy, developing concentration, encouraging teamwork and collaboration, and strengthening friendships. There are opportunities for both solo performances such as monologues and group performances based on popular scripts and self-devised plays. Each year group explores many different styles of theatre and acting techniques, diving into the rich history of theatre itself.
The Drama program offers an excellent range of extra-curricular activities that allow students to break out of their comfort zone to develop their confidence, creativity and team-building skills. Every two years the College presents a musical production, showcasing students’ talent, commitment, and community spirit in a whole College extravaganza. Previous productions include Hairspray, Peter Pan, Wonderland, Beauty & the Beast, High School Musical and Back to the 80’s.
The extra-curricular Drama Club is very popular and operates in two groups: Years 7-8 and Years 9-12. Students have the opportunity to participate competition and events including the Catholic Schools’ Performing Arts Festival, annual College Drama Night, and at assemblies and liturgies, especially for Easter and Christmas celebrations.
Dance
Students are able to choose Dance as a subject from Years 9 to 12, which includes both ATAR and General Dance. ‘IMCC All Star Dance’ is our extra-curricular program and includes four teams who perform dances in the genres of Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz and Cheerleading. Students get the opportunity to compete at multiple competitions as well as the Catholic Schools’ Performing Arts Festival.
All students in both the curricular and All-Star program perform at our annual ‘Dance Night’ which is held at a professional venue each year. The dance culture at the College is one of support, fun and inclusivity, and allows students to express themselves creatively and improve confidence as well as dance skills.
Visual Arts
In Visual Arts and Photography, students are exposed to varied mediums and thematic projects, by which they create a final artwork using the knowledge and skills accumulated during the semester. Students learn techniques in sculpture, ceramics, painting, printmaking, and mixed media. Creativity is encouraged through a design process, where students are challenged to create a suitable composition that fits the brief.
In Year 10, Specialist Art is an additional subject option for those that have a passion and talent for art. These students usually go on to pursue ATAR Visual Art in senior school. In Years 11 and 12 courses offered include General and ATAR Visual Art, where both courses respond to thematic units and students build on their analysis skills and artistic understanding.
Photography
Photography courses seek to teach students how to operate digital and DSLR cameras, optimal photo composition, and how to edit photos accordingly using Adobe Lightroom. Students also learn how to manipulate their photos in Photoshop and design products based on the brief given.
In Years 11 and 12 the General Design Photography course is offered, which combines the three areas of Photography, Graphics and Design. This course extends what is taught in Years 7 to 10 courses and pushes students to creatively photograph, edit and design a suitable product. Adobe Indesign is used by students to create a digital portfolio that documents their design process. All software used is industry standard and seeks to give students a strong skills set in design using the Adobe suite.
Exhibitions
The College is proud to be a part of three prominent exhibitions:
Angelico Art Exhibition
The Angelico Art Exhibition is named after Blessed Fra Angelico, Patron before God of Artists and is a prestigious annual event on the Catholic school art calendar. The Angelico Art Exhibition in part of the Spirit of the Arts Festival which brings together Catholic school students from across the state to participate in an inclusive, uplifting celebration of the arts. The Festival highlights the exceptional gifts and talents of primary and secondary students as well as celebrating the importance and joy the arts bring to our students and school communities.
St George’s Cathedral Art Exhibition
St George’s Cathedral Art Exhibition is a premier annual event in art education in Western Australia, attracting schools from all sectors. Participation in this exhibition provides an outstanding opportunity for schools to present work by students in Years 10, 11 and 12, in the unique setting of St George’s Cathedral. At the Gala Awards Night, prizes are awarded to selected works by a prestigious panel of judges.
Annual College Creations Exhibition
The Creations Exhibition is an annual showcase of the creative works of students from Years 7 to 12 in Visual Arts, Photography, Design & Technology and Fashion & Textiles. A number of awards are presented to students who demonstrate a high level of technique and creativity in their work.
