Spotlight on the Arts

Episode 5 welcomes Skye Swaysland and Byron Hurst.

Skye, a talented student embarking on her HSC journey at St Aloysius College Cronulla. With dreams of pursuing a career in art and design, Skye's interests span the realms of art, music, and beach outings with friends. She thrives on challenges, and the Portrait Prize has inspired her artistic endeavours. 

Byron is Leader of Learning, Creative and Performing ...

Episode 4 welcomes Leya Rafferty and Tory Brustolin.  

Leya is a Year 10 student at Marist Catholic College Penshurst. She's a versatile talent with a love for Visual Arts, excelling in drawing, multimedia, watercolour, and impressionist painting. Beyond the canvas, Leya is a dedicated participant in taekwondo, cooking, yoga, and swimming, where she has earned several awards. 

Tory is a Visual Arts and R...

Episode 3 welcomes Sonia Zang and Maree Boulis.
Sonia was the SCS Portrait Prize 5 - 8 Category Winner in 2023.

Sonia is a Year 4 student at St Patrick's Mortlake. She is both studious and creative, thriving on challenges in both her studies and artwork. Outside of school, Sonia enjoys playing the violin and reading whenever she can.

Maree is a teacher at St Patrick’s and Maree Boulis is the Creative and...

Episode 2 of the Portrait Prize Podcast introduces Keanna Chong and Tom Walters from St Fiacre’s Leichhardt. 

Keanna is in Year 3 at St Fiacre’s Catholic Primary School in Leichhardt. Keanna's favourite school subjects include Writing and Maths, and she adores Art. Keanna enjoys reading, drawing, dancing, and travelling in Japan with her family.

Tom Walters is the current Assistant Principal at St Fiacre’s Catholic Primary Schoo...

In episode 1, we welcome Nate Sinkovic and Rosemary Wehbe from Marcellin College Randwick. Nate was the 2023 Winner of the 13 - 15 category in the Sydney Catholic Schools and a finalist in the Young Archie Competition.

Nate is an all rounder student and has a love of drawing and a passion for sharing his highly creative work.

Rosemary Wehbe is a leader of learning, Visual Arts and Photography and has been teaching at the College for ...

Episode 6 - Achieving Success in the HSC and Beyond

In this season we explore the importance of the Arts not just in education but for life. It allows us to thrive and connect, making sense of the world around us.

In this episode we chat with Arts Educators from Sydney Catholic Schools and hear their insight on how to excel in the arts subjects. 

Featuring the following experienced Arts Educators
Byro...

In this season we explore the importance of the Arts not just in education but for life. It allows us to thrive and connect, making sense of the world around us.

In this episode we chat with Stage 6 Visual Arts Students from De La Salle Catholic College, Cronulla who take us on a deep dive into the intricacies of a Visual Arts education.

Featuring students from De la Salle College, Cronulla

Hosted by Jordan Vassallo and Brad...

In this season we explore the importance of the Arts not just in education but for life. It allows us to thrive and connect, making sense of the world around us.

In this episode we chat with Stage 6 Music Students from Sydney Catholic Schools who take us on a deep dive into the intricacies of a music education sharing valuable insights that are game changers to HSC preparation.

Featuring students from:
Southern Cross Ca...

In this season we explore the importance of the Arts not just in education but for life. It allows us to thrive and connect, making sense of the world around us.

In this episode we chat with Stage 6 Drama Students from Sydney Catholic Schools who put us on the VIP List and give us backstage pass to the process and preparation for HSC performance

Featuring students from:
Aquinas Catholic College, Menai
St Patrick&apo...

In this season we explore the importance of the Arts not just in education but for life. It allows us to thrive and connect, making sense of the world around us.

In this episode we chat with Stage 6 Dance Students from Sydney Catholic Schools who respond to an example of the HSC interview question, we’ll hear students’ perspectives and elaboration on the HSC dance practical exam.

Featuring dancers from:
Southern Cross...

In this season we explore the importance of the Arts not just in education but for life. It allows us to thrive and connect, making sense of the world around us.

An arts education is based in holistic learning that promotes not only physical learning but social, emotional, cognitive engagement and aesthetic reasoning.

In this episode we hear from exemplary Stage 6 Sydney Catholic School students as they reflect on how an Ar...

Sarah-Vyne Vassallo is a director, choreographer, writer and arts consultant.  With her career spanning two decades, she has worked professionally both as a performer, and a Creative in arts and entertainment. ​

Sarah-Vyne is an interdisciplinary artist, working across commercial and contemporary dance, theatre, screen, curation, scenic design and arts and cultural development. 

She is a recipient of the prestigious Winston Churchill...

Performing Arts Teachers at St John Bosco Primary, Engadine find ways of cultivating a love of the arts through musical theatre and chat about how they make the Arts accessible to their school community.

Michelle White and Lucia Benjamin have over 35 years teaching experience between them. Lucy is a music specialist and Michelle teaches Dance and Drama..
Throughout her teaching career Lucy has led choirs , bands and ha...

Clancy Catholic College, West Hoxton, provides a myriad of ways to access the Arts.  The foundations of stage 5 elective dance has been built and in 2023 a stage 6 ViVA satellite class has commenced in collaboration with SCCC Burwood. 

Clancy students  have the opportunity to work as choreographers and performers for competitions such as the SCS Dance Eisteddfod  and other Dance festivals. 

Dance teacher Simone Ru...

Luke O'Shea carries on the proud and ancient tradition of singing up country. Drawing inspiration from the humorous and the heart-breaking, he crafts and delivers his celebrated songs to connect with audiences on a surprising deeper level. Throughout his twenty-five years of touring and making music, Luke has been awarded a number of prestigious awards including 16 Golden Guitars, 2 APRA Songs of the Year, a Bush Laureate and ...

Katie Crowl is a graduate of Theatre Nepean (2006), holding a Bachelor of Performance - Theatre, Theory and Practice- Acting. Her acting credits include The Grief Parlour with Clockfire Theatre, 80’s Actress (201), ABC Television Series Pilot, The Stereo Complex, a web series for animal dashboard productions and The Combination ll currently on Netflix. 
Katie devises narrative comedy with big bold silly characters and has produ...

Katie is a graduate of Theatre Nepean (2006), holding a Bachelor of Performance - Theatre, Theory and Practice- Acting. Her acting credits include The Grief Parlour with Clockfire Theatre, 80’s Actress (201), ABC Television Series Pilot, The Stereo Complex, a web series for animal dashboard productions and The Combination ll currently on Netflix. 
Katie devises narrative comedy with big bold silly characters and has produced sh...

Welcome to Season 9 | UNPLUGGED.
A look into CaSPA’s Singer Songwriting program, an extension program for emerging musical artists. The program provides the opportunity to work collaboratively with like-minded artists in a professional studio setting, culminating in a final, radio-ready song. 

This season we will chat to current Sydney Catholic Schools artists as well as alumni who are forging a career in the music industry. Ea...

Welcome to Season 9 | UNPLUGGED.
A look into CaSPA’s Singer Songwriting program, an extension program for emerging musical artists. The program provides the opportunity to work collaboratively with like-minded artists in a professional studio setting, culminating in a final, radio-ready song. 

This season we will chat to current Sydney Catholic Schools artists as well as alumni who are forging a career in the music industr...