Busy week in Performing Arts

China Arts Express Day, Singers' Concert and St Aubyns Factor Tuesday 24 February 2009

The week leading up to half-term was a busy one for the Performing Arts at St Aubyns. The school sets great value by encouraging children to perform as a way of developing confidence and of expressing themselves. A series of events enabled us both to showcase talent and to involve a large number of children in performance.

China Arts Express Day for Years 3 to 5

On Monday 9th February an Arts Express Day postponed from the previous week becasue of the snow There were three different was held. The Arts Express Days this year are following a theme of One World and this day enabled the children in Years 3, 4 and 5 to explore facets of the culture of China. There were three different activities – Chinese calligraphy, kung fu and music workshops. During these varied sessions the children achieved wonderful results which were showcased in a performance for the parents at the end of the school day. We were also treated to performances from a professional Chinese musician and martial arts expert which were truly amazing! The children finished a most enjoyable day by breaking open fortune cookies, kindly donated by the Flowers family. Many thanks to all the parents who once again came up trumps with costumes – all your hard work and imaginative creativity does not go unnoticed!

Singers' Concert

This event was held for the first time last year at the instigation of our Singing teacher, Mr Robert Hammersley, and its repeat on Tuesday

10th February was a most enjoyable evening. Fourteen children who receive singing lessons performed in the chapel a mixture of songs from the musicals, religious music and other traditional pieces. Some of the children are members of the chapel choir and are accustomed to singing in public; for others this was a new and more challenging venture. All acquitted themselves admirably and the parents who attended were treated to a feast of music.

St Aubyns Factor

The evening of Thursday 12th February saw the final of the St Aubyns Factor 2009. A large number of children had auditioned during break times in the preceding weeks and twelve acts had been selected for the final. All of the children's entry fees and money from the evening

will go to the school charity for the year, Save the Children. The variety of the acts on show was matched by the confidence with which soloists and group performers displayed their talent to the packed Studio Theatre  - the evening had to be relayed by video link to the dining room to enable all who wanted to see the show to do so! Singing (including one act where a pupil provided the piano accompaniment with great aplomb), dancing and a very creditable stand-up comedy were on show. A panel of judges - the Headmaster, a parent and a pupil - passed judgment on each act before all of the audience cast their votes to decide the winner during the interval. Before the result was announced some particularly brave staff entertained the audience with their own musical and dramatic skills. Well done to all of the children who took part - it was a lot of fun and effort in a very good cause.