Co-Curricular Activities

Creative and Performing Arts

St Joseph’s Catholic College offers a wide range of musical and performance activities catering for individual needs and interests.

Vocal Ensemble

St Joseph’s has a strong tradition of choral excellence. Our College Choir gives students with a passion for singing their chance to sing exciting and varied repertoire, develop aural awareness and confidence through performance. Vocal Ensemble is conducted by Ms Dixon. Music teachers plan performance and learning opportunities including workshops, excursions, CAPA nights and eisteddfods. In the past these have included participating in The Australian National Eisteddfod in Canberra, (where they have won awards), singing in concerts with The Central Coast Philharmonia, performing in concerts with Chatswood High, James Morrision, Northholm Grammar School and workshops with The Idea of North. They also participate in service learning by singing at nursing homes, retirement villages and Mary Mac’s at Woy Woy. Singing at Liturgies and Masses is also a big part of contributing to the life of the college. In the past St Joesph’s Choir has won 1st place in The Central Coast Eisteddfod on many occasions. They have also toured to New Zealand.
Rehearsal is Thursday morning 8.20am – 9am in Shekinah. There is no cost.

Joey’s Eddie’s Concert band

At St Joseph’s we have a strong connection with both the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music and St Edward’s College. As with the bands in our feeder primary schools, our concert band falls under the Conservatorium School Bands Program and is conducted by Dr Phillip Rutherford. Since its conception we have worked collaboratively with St Edward’s to form a larger concert band. 

All students who learn an instrument either inside or outside of the College are welcome to join. Our student musicians come with a range of playing experiences and all instrumental students are welcome with no audition necessary. Currently members of our concert band include: flute, clarinet, saxophone (both alto and tenor), trumpet, trombone, bass and percussion.

Performance opportunities for our concert band include: Christmas performance at  Erina Fair, College Presentation Night, Liturgies, Masses, visits to nursing homes and retirement villages. On occasion our concert band has performed in College Productions and CAPA nights. It is hoped this ensemble will continue to grow in size and we look forward to many exciting performances in the future.

Rehearsal is weekly during Monday lunchtime in the music rooms. No cost.

Flute Ensemble

Flute Ensemble was initiated in 2021. As we enter our third year we are proud to announce that the group are working towards a recording of a newly composed work “An Irish Fantasy” by American composer Ray Brawell. This flute ensemble work has been composed specifically for and dedicated to The Flute Ensemble of St Joseph’s Catholic College.

Previously our Flute Ensemble recorded a lock down Christmas Album at the end of 2021. In 2022 music ensembles returned to in-person rehearsals and our musicians were also introduced to other members of the flute family with an alto flute and a bass flute included in our ensemble. 2022 also saw the inaugural “Spring Into Flute” workshop day in the October holidays for our own budding musicians and those interested from our feeder primary schools which we are thrilled to be continuing as an annual event.

The Flute Ensemble of St Joseph’s Catholic College is directed by Rosalie Bourne and meets Friday lunch in room 84 at no cost. All flute and cello students are welcome.

Guitar Ensemble

This year we are offering an exciting new ensemble experience with guitar. This ensemble currently has 12 members with experience ranging from beginners to intermediate players.

Students are offered an opportunity to develop ensemble skills with like-minded musicians.

We look forward to finding performance opportunities for these musicians potentially including CAPA Performance Night, Presentation Night and public performances within the community.

Guitar Ensemble meets on a Tuesday morning at 8.20 in room 84 and is conducted by Mrs Stephens.

Instrumental Tuition

At St Joseph’s we pride ourselves on the connections we foster with experienced instrumental and vocal teachers. We have an exciting and growing instrumental tuition program offering one to one lessons which cater from the beginner to the advanced student.

Lessons occur during the school day between 9:30am – 2:30pm and lesson times are decided in consultation with the Tutor, parent, and student. Where possible times are rotated to reduce subject time being missed on consecutive weeks.

In addition to flute and cello lessons onsite, we currently have connections with private teachers on the following instruments: piano, voice, guitar, bass and drums. Lesson costs range in price and payment of these are negotiated between families and the private teacher.

If your daughter is interested in learning a musical instrument at school, please contact our Music teachers (either Teresa Stephens or Linda Dixon) directly and they will be pleased to work with you to book you in with one of our existing teachers or source a teacher for you where your chosen instrument is not currently available.

Currently the following occur onsite:

• Private flute lessons with Rosalie Bourne
• Cello lessons with Andrew Wilson

 We can provide, on request, contacts for the following:

• Drum
• Guitar
• Voice
• Piano

Spring into Flute

2022 saw the Inaugural “Spring Into Flute” workshop day celebrated in October last year. We welcomed 45 students, both from St Joseph’s and a variety of our feeder primary schools. Students participated in a range of drama games, tutorials and ensemble rehearsals. They enjoyed a day of sharing music and developing ensemble skills. Local flautists, teachers  and musicians Rosalie Bourne and Derek Galloway worked with music staff to facilitate the day.  This workshop will run again on 6th October 2023.

Band Jam

2023 will see St Joseph’s host a workshop day with the St Joseph’s and St Edward’s Concert Band alongside our feeder primary schools. We look forward to making this an annual event. This day will include workshops with instrument specialists and band rehearsals to develop ensemble playing. It will be lovely for our primary school students to work with the high school band and develop connections and musicianship.