A Semester in Retrospect: Wesley Institute 2011 Creative Highlights
The academic year has drawn to a close at Wesley Institute. Projects are complete, grading and marking finished, the bustle of students normally surrounding the ‘grassy knoll’ has quieted and we’ve seen the End of Year Dinner come and go – a highly anticipated annual event celebrating the completion of another great year.
And indeed, it’s been a great year. This past semester featured a number of outstanding performances, showcasing the diversity of talent and creativity at Wesley Institute.
The School of Drama delivered a series of sold-out productions that immersed theatre-goers in another time and space, including Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Jean Anouilh’s Romeo & Jeanette. To top it off, the theatre season was made complete with the musical production Kiss Me Kate¸ a cross-departmental show involving the collaboration of dramatists, musicians and dancers.
Wesley Institute’s talented musicians stepped into the spotlight at the Music Student Showcase, highlighting the work of the Bachelor of Music students and featuring pieces across many instruments and musical genres. Later in the semester graduating students displayed the culmination of their development over the past three years through their final recitals.
Our dancers most recently presented their works in three exciting performances between Wesley Institute and Parade Playhouse, while graduating students in the School of Graphic Design showcased their final works before a ‘packed house’ at the Graphic Design Exhibition.
Further prominent events on campus included Open Days, workshops, and industry forums drawing a number of new contributors to the Wesley Institute community. Students and staff were also blessed with a range of fantastic guest 
speakers, including Michael Laverty, CEO of Tropfest; Jeff Crabtree, musician, author and speaker;DanielKay, musician, educator and contemporary singing voice specialist; and Simon Hunter, Australian President of the New York Film Academy who led a Script Writing Workshop.
And finally, finishing students were treated to graduand celebrations at Drummoyne’s Copo Café on the 22nd and 23rd of November. Students and staff chatted over canapes and drinks while talented second-year Music students played several acoustic sets. It was a great opportunity to relax and enjoy the accomplishments of all!
On behalf of Wesley Institute, we’d like to congratulate the students and faculty involved in the works of art and events we’ve supported at Wesley Institute this year. We look forward to pressing forward together and expanding our creative horizons in 2012!
By Melissa Clarke
