Music and The Arts
The Performing Arts offer a path for every student to explore their voice, nurture their creativity and build confidence.
drama
Passion on stage,
courage in life
Drama is for everyone, from those seeking fun and confidence, to aspiring actors pursuing their craft.
Opportunities for all
Drama creates space for self-expression, creativity and collaboration. Students learn to communicate, perform, and reflect on the world around them through a physical and social lens.
Everyone can get involved, whether through after-school clubs, curriculum electives, or our highly successful range of productions, including:
- The Junior School Production for Year 6
- The Senior Musical for Years 7–12
- The Senior Drama Production for Years 10–11
Past students often return as mentors and contributors, enriching the vibrant arts community that continues well beyond graduation.
Junior Drama
From Year 1, children can take part in after-school drama clubs. These programs teach core stagecraft skills: characterisation, blocking, vocal projection, physical expression, storytelling and collaboration. Each semester concludes with a showcase in our Drama Studio.
In Year 6, students work across three terms towards the Junior School Production, rehearsing weekly after school. Roles extend beyond acting and singing to behind-the-scenes positions such as lighting and set construction, ensuring more than 90% of the cohort takes part.
Recent Junior productions have included Madagascar – A Musical JR., Shrek The Musical JR., Annie JR., Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Robin Hood.
Senior Drama
Opportunities expand through Middle School and into Senior College:
- Years 7–8: an after-school drama club builds core skills and offers a fun pathway into elective Drama.
- Years 9–12: Drama is available as an elective, culminating in the HSC course.
Students may audition for the annual Senior Musical (Years 7–12), a large-scale production involving more than 100 students in acting, singing, dancing and technical support. Past successes include Oliver!, Wicked, Singin’ in the Rain, Jesus Christ Superstar and We Will Rock You!
For those focused purely on acting, the Senior Drama Production (Years 10–11) provides a smaller-scale performance experience each year. Productions have ranged from The Great Gatsby to Sherlock Holmes and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
Professional facilities
Students benefit from a professional environment in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC), which houses:
- A 750-seat auditorium with professional stage, sound and lighting equipment and a hydraulic orchestra pit
- A dedicated Drama Studio that doubles as a green room, complete with theatre lighting, wardrobe and prop store, staging blocks and mirrors
These inspiring facilities allow students to perform and rehearse at a professional standard, preparing them for confident performance in school and beyond.
Music
Individual expression,
lifelong confidence
Music enriches a Grammar education.
It is taught by specialist teachers and available to every student, from their earliest years through to Senior College. Music fosters lifelong creativity, resilience and confidence.
Compulsory Music Curriculum
Every student participates in a full instrumental program.
- Year 3: all students learn an orchestral string instrument: violin, viola, cello or double bass. They begin in small tutorial groups matched to their experience, then progress into graded ensembles with peers of similar ability.
- Year 4: students may continue their string instrument or move into the Concert Band program, choosing from flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, bass guitar or percussion.
- Years 5 and 6:
Students use contemporary digital technology to arrange and compose music. Singing, tuned and untuned percussion, movement and their own instruments are combined to create group and individual performances, often reflecting classroom themes.
Music beyond the classroom
Students can extend their skills and passions through private tuition and a wide range of ensembles.
- Choirs: Infants and Junior Choirs nurture young voices and performance confidence.
- Strings: Junior String Ensemble builds ensemble skills; Extension Strings Ensemble caters for advanced Year 3 players.
- Band: Junior Concert Band brings together woodwind, brass and percussion players, with Band Extension Ensemble supporting advanced Year 4 musicians.
- Percussion: Junior Percussion Ensemble introduces tuned and untuned instruments, teaching rhythm, improvisation and ensemble skills.
- Guitar: Junior Guitar Ensemble develops reading, ensemble playing and musicianship.
With over 300 students also enrolled in private lessons each week, supported by over 25 professional tutors, music is a vibrant part of daily life at Grammar.
A spectrum of opportunity
As students move into senior years, they can choose to study Music 1 or Music 2 for the HSC, while continuing to participate in over 15 co-curricular ensembles, public performances, workshops and international tours.
Our purpose-built Performing Arts Centre includes specialist classrooms, a recording studio, tutorial rooms and a 750-seat auditorium with hydraulic orchestra pit. These professional-level facilities ensure our musicians have access to everything they need, right from the very start of their musical journey.
Dance Academy
Discovering creativity through movement
Our CCGS Dance Academy offers every student the chance to embrace the joy of dance in an inclusive, supportive and inspiring environment.
Dance for everyone
The Academy welcomes students of all skill levels, from seasoned performers to those simply wanting to explore dance for fun. With a diverse range of styles, every child and young person can discover their passion for movement, creativity and self-expression.
Expert teaching, flexible programs
Classes are led by an exceptional team of specialist teachers and held conveniently on campus before and after school. This flexible structure means students can pursue dance alongside their academic studies, while learning in a nurturing and professional environment.
Performance and growth
Through regular performance opportunities and competition groups, dancers build confidence, stage presence and artistry. These experiences encourage teamwork and resilience while fostering a lifelong love of dance.
Debating and Public Speaking
Finding your voice,
shaping ideas
Debating and public speaking help develop lifelong personal attributes of conviction, clarity and persuasion.
Opportunities for all
From Kindergarten to Year 12, every student can get involved. All students participate in inter-house public speaking competitions. Debating and public speaking provide an ideal opportunity to:
- Build confidence in presenting yourself and your ideas
- Learn how to be persuasive and convincing
- Structure thoughts clearly and logically
- Think on your feet and stay calm under pressure
These skills grow in a fun and collegial environment, where life-long friendships are forged.
Junior Debating and Public Speaking
- Kindergarten to Year 4: Inter-house competitions introduce students to presenting with confidence.
- Year 5 onwards: Students can join the representative debating squad, which meets weekly for workshops, competitions and mentoring. Older students help guide younger debaters, creating a culture of encouragement and growth.
Representative teams compete in:
- Inter-house debating and public speaking competitions
- Debating and public speaking meetings and workshops
- CCIS Debating
- HICES Debating Competition
- IPSHA Debating Gala Day
- Macquarie University Debating
Senior Debating and Public Speaking
From Year 7 through to Year 12, students continue to refine their skills in inter-house competitions and through our representative squad. Senior students participate in a wide range of external competitions, including:
- Bond University High School Mooting Competition
- Central Coast Independent Schools Debating
- HICES Debating Competition
- Josie Mitchell Public Speaking Competition
- Legacy Public Speaking Competition
- Lions Youth of the Year
- Macquarie University Debating
- Mock Trial
- MUNA (Model United Nations Assembly)
- Plain English Speaking Competition
- Probus Cup Debating Competition
These experiences give students authentic opportunities to compete, collaborate and present in a range of settings, preparing them to be articulate, confident and principled communicators
Shaping next generation learners
Discover more
From sport and the arts to outdoor education, robotics and international programs, Grammar offers a breadth of experiences unmatched in our region.
Explore the opportunities we provide to help students learn well and live well, and enable them to build resilience, creativity, leadership and global awareness.
Outdoor Education
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Robotics
Thinking creatively and solving problems with cutting-edge technology.
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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
International Programs
Expanding horizons for compassionate and globally-minded learners.
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