The school provides dynamic and engaging Arts programs that seek to enhance diverse skills and personal development among our students, tailored to suit the specific educational stages.
For students in Pre-Prep to Year 6, we offer a diverse range of programs, competitions, and events to foster creativity, self-discipline, resilience, and confidence. The programs include events such as Wakakirri, National Arts Education Week, and Harmony Day, as well as Showcases and performances.
The school’s Music Program features weekly lessons that encourage students to engage with music through exploration, response, and creation within a supportive environment. From Year 3 onwards, students are introduced to various instruments through the Instrumental Curriculum Program, progressing from strings in Year 3, keyboard in Year 4, band instruments in Year 5, and digital music in Year 6.
Additionally, the Curriculum Dance Program for students in Prep to Year 2 incorporates weekly dance lessons, while the Curriculum Drama Program, available for students in Years 3 to 6, utilises the school’s Performing Arts space for imaginative, independent thinking and emotional expression.
Our students in Years 7 to 12 receive a comprehensive and stimulating Arts Curriculum. The subjects are a foundation for fostering creativity and cultivating essential skills such as critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. Through this curriculum, we aim to inspire young women to discover their unique voice and embrace new challenges.
In Years 7 and 8, students rotate through Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts. From Year 9 onwards, students have the option to specialise in their preferred Arts electives, continuing through their Middle and Senior school years.
We offer two choirs for our Junior Grammar Students: Junior Grammar Melodies Choir for our Years 2 and 3 and Junior Grammar Harmonies Choir for our Years 4 to 6. Students do not need to audition for these choirs, but they do need to commit to regular, weekly rehearsals and performances.
Students in Years 7 to 12 can join two choirs: IGGS Bella Voce Choir which is our non-auditioned choir for Years 7 to 12 and the IGGS Sorella Choir, which is our auditioned choir.
Students must commit to attending all weekly rehearsals and performances. All Junior Grammar and IGGS Choirs have the opportunity to compete locally and further afield, as well as perform for non-competitive events at School or in the wider community.
The Dance Troupe program is offered to students from Years 2 to 12. There are six dance troupes in total:
All students in Junior Grammar Troupes are accepted into the groups via audition. The auditions are held at the end of each academic year, so that students can be streamed into the correct troupe.
Students from Years 7 to 12 must also audition for the troupes but not all students are selected for the program. Selection is based on how students present at the auditions.
Once accepted into the program, students are to attend all weekly rehearsals and all performances.
Dance Troupes compete at local competitions and also perform at non-competitive events at the School and for the wider community. Each year, we celebrate their dedication and commitment to Dance, at the annual Dance Showcase concert.
We offer Drama Club to our Junior Grammar Students from Years 3 to 6, and our IGGS students from Years 7 to 12. These classes are run by the company, Backbone Youth Arts, (Backbone) for our Junior Grammar students in Years 3 to 6. For our Senior School students in Years 7 to 12, we offer Drama Club sessions with Backbone and they also have the opportunity to audition for a place on the Youth Theatresports Teams, where they will work with specialist coaches on a fast-paced, improvisational style of acting.
All Co-curricular Drama students have the opportunity to perform for family and friends throughout the year with the Years 7 to 12 students participating in the annual IGGS Co-curricular Arts Showcase.
Students learning an instrument also have the opportunity to audition for the Ensembles Program at Junior Grammar and IGGS. We offer a wide array of ensembles so that students learn to be part of a musical team. The ensembles offered are:
Entry into the Ensembles program is via audition only, however, all students are accepted into a group. Auditions for the IJGS/IGGS Symphony Orchestra are separate and not all students are accepted. The minimum standard for entry into the Symphony Orchestra is Grade 3 - 4 AMEB.
Our ensembles enjoy performing at local competitive events as well as non-competitive events at School and for the wider community. They have a busy annual performance calendar and so all students are expected to attend weekly rehearsals with their Ensemble Director.
In addition to the many Co-curricular Arts groups with which students can be involved, they also have the opportunity to undertake private instrumental, vocal, and Speech and Drama lessons from Prep to Year 12. Students attend weekly lessons with specialist staff who are experts in their chosen field and it is through these lessons that students are encouraged to explore and expand their knowledge of instrumental music, singing and/or Speech and Drama. Students who enrol into Private Tuition are given the opportunity to advance their skills via private (external) exams, local competitive events and as soloists for our many in-school events.
Board of Trustees Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School including Ipswich Junior Grammar School
ABN 82 776 447 213 | CRICOS No.0053D
Site: YourSchool
