Performance

The Performing Arts at Mercy College offers students diverse opportunities to explore their creative potential in a safe and supportive environment. Students communicate, collaborate, and extrapolate ideas through Drama, Music, and Dance.

Alongside the Mercy curriculum, the Performing Arts provides co-curricular opportunities including:

• The College Musical
• The College Drama Production
• Dance Troupe
• Annual Creative Arts Concert at Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre
• Vocal Ensemble
• Mercy Voices
• Guitar Ensemble
• Rock Bands
• Concert Band
• Private and Group Instrumental Lessons

Drama

The Drama Curriculum at Mercy covers a range of exciting and challenging theatre styles that encourage students to explore their creative, performance and critical thinking skills. At Year 8, students explore the physical and imaginative styles of Mime, Commedia Dell’ Arte and Melodrama. Year 9 and 10 provides students with an opportunity for exploration in both the performance world of theatre and the production/stagecraft elements. The course is designed to prepare and extend the knowledge and skills of each student, with a focus on Non Naturalistic styles which lead into the successful VCE Drama curriculum. Senior students are privileged with the opportunity to attend professional theatre performances as part of their studies.

In 2015, the College Dux (98.45 ATAR) was awarded a 49 out of 50 Study Score in VCE Drama.

Music

The Music Program at Mercy College offers a diverse range of opportunities and performance based experiences as part of the curriculum and co-curriculum programs.

In Year 7, students have the opportunity to learn a Brass or Woodwind instrument and perform as part of the Year 7 Class Band Program.  With the guidance of specialist instrumental teachers, students will acquire technical, theoretical and performance based skills.  In Year 8, students also have the chance to have choral lessons with a trained vocal teacher and perform as part of a Class Choir. They also write, arrange and perform their own original 12 Bar Blues composition.

At Year 9 and 10 students can choose Music  as an elective. In Year 9 students form their own Rock Band. In bands they learn how to set up relevant sound equipment and have the opportunity to arrange, practice and perform a rock song.  They visit a recording studio and have their songs professionally recorded. In Year 10 student focus on solo and group performance. They have the opportunity to develop their performance skills by exploring practice strategies and performance etiquette through workshops and watching live performances. Students listen to, analyse, discuss and compose music, and learn relevant musical theory and aural.

In Year 11 and 12 students can study VCE Music Performance, focusing on solo or group performance.

The Instrumental Program at Mercy College allows students to have private or group lessons with an instrumental specialist, on a chosen instrument. To complement the Instrumental Program and Music Curriculum, students are invited to join one of the College Music Ensembles. Each group has weekly rehearsals and offers students additional performance opportunities and experiences. As a member of the Ensemble Program, students develop their ensemble and performance skills and perform at the Creative Arts Concert, Music Recital, Colleges Masses and other community events.

• Vocal Ensemble
• Mercy Voices
• Rock Bands
• Concert Band
• Brass Ensemble
• Guitar Ensemble
• Flute Ensemble
• Saxophone Ensemble
• Chamber Music Ensembles
• Private and Group Instrumental Lessons

Dance

Dance at Mercy College explores the movement potential of the body in a collaborative and challenging environment. A core subject at Year 7, Dance offers students the ability to learn and explore different styles, the significance of dance in social and cultural settings, and choreographic devices. At Mercy, different abilities and talents are celebrated.

Students engage in collaborative tasks which allows them to practice their teamwork and social skills.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in co-curricular dance through the Musical and through the Dance Troupe. The Dance Troupe run by student leaders and is for girls of all year levels to celebrate the medium as a community.

College Productions

Mercy College has a long and impressive production history. In more recent years, the collaboration with Parade College has offered students the chance to be involved in the annual Musical (2013 onwards) and Drama Productions (2011 onwards). Students are encouraged to participate in all aspects of the production as either a member of the cast or crew. The college is proud to maintain a very high standard of production which encourages students to extend their knowledge and transferable skills in an enjoyable and challenging performance environment.

Recent productions include;