Championship titles, state honours and finalist selections have capped a successful Term Two for PLC Armidale’s Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) program, with students achieving strong results in music, dance, drama and visual arts at regional and state level.
Students competed across a range of events during the term, including the Tamworth Choral Eisteddfod, Armidale Eisteddfod, New England and Tamworth Dance Eisteddfods, the Sport by Jove Shakespeare Carnival and the University of New England School Acquisitive Art Prize (UNESAP).
More than 45 PLC Armidale choristers competed at the Tamworth Choral Eisteddfod, where Bel Canto won the Secondary Schools Choir section, the PLC SIP Ensemble placed first in the Chamber Choir section, and the PLC Senior Choir finished second in the Tamworth Choral Championship.
The Stage 6 Choir placed third in the Secondary Schools Choir section, while the Stage 5 Elective Music class received a Highly Commended award.
The school’s success continued at the Armidale Eisteddfod, where PLC ensembles won first place in multiple categories, including the K–2 Choir, Years 3–6 Choir (Unison and Two-Part sections), Junior Piano Trio, Year 8 Band, Stage 5 Class Ensemble, Stage 6 Music Ensemble and PLC Cello Ensemble.
The Stage 5 Class Ensemble was also awarded the Perpetual Shield, while the PLC Cello Ensemble received the K–6 String Ensemble Perpetual Shield.
PLC student performances featured in the Armidale Eisteddfod Gala Concert, and students received five Adjudicator Awards and eight Championship Awards during the competition.
Music Captain Binudi Vithana received the Adjudicator’s Choice Award for Composition. Renowned composer Robert Davidson described her work as “a very original piece… showing an extremely intelligent, exploratory approach to composition.”
Dance students also recorded strong results at the Tamworth Dance Eisteddfod. The Stage 5 Jazz Ensemble placed second, the Senior Dance Ensemble finished third, and the Stage 5 Contemporary Ensemble received a Highly Commended award.
PLC’s drama program also enjoyed success at the Regional Shakespeare Carnival, with five entries progressing to the NSW State Finals. Competing against schools from across NSW and the ACT, PLC won State Championship titles in the Duologue and Music categories.
Shakespeare Carnival State-winning music entry.
In visual arts, Year 10 students Poppy-Grace Newton and Illiana Carruthers were selected as finalists in the University of New England School Acquisitive Art Prize and Let’s Hang It! exhibition from more than 700 entries submitted by 43 schools.
“As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding term, I have been reflecting on just how much our students have achieved,” Head of Creative and Performing Arts, Jo Wysel said.
“From state-level success to thought-provoking theatre, this term has demonstrated not only the talent of our students, but also their willingness to embrace challenge, creativity and artistic risk.”
Principal Nicola Taylor said the results reflected the strength of PLC Armidale’s culture of excellence and opportunity across the arts.
The school said the results capped a successful term for its CAPA program, highlighting student achievement across music, dance, drama and visual arts.
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