The Arts

Music, Drama and Visual Art, are thriving disciplines at TAS, studied as part of the Prep to Year 8 Curriculum. In Year 9 and Year 10, Music, Drama and Visual Art can be studied as elective subjects each semester. 

TAS Visual Art Program

The TAS Art Program is enhanced by regular visits of professional artists and by attendance at local exhibitions. Students enter both local and national art competitions, as well as displaying their work at school promotional evenings and at specifically staged school art shows.  Each year, the Senior Visual Art students participate in competitions and exhibition including but not limited to: Cairns Show – Photography and Wearable Art Competitions, Write About Art by Flying Art Competition, Creative Generation – ENERGY Exhibition at the TANKS Art Centre and Receive < Respond.

TAS Drama Program

The TAS Drama Program encourages students to participate in productions ranging from Shakespeare to mime and contemporary plays. Productions are staged for the public on a regular basis in the Bishop Centre for Performing Arts, the School’s fully equipped Performing Arts Complex. The student technical crew support these performances.

TAS Music

Instrumental Tuition
Many students receive instrumental tuition on a range of musical instruments through TAS Instrumental and Vocal Lessons provided by a number of visiting private contractor tutors who offer professional, individual tuition, during school hours. Students from Year 2 to Year 12 can apply for lessons on piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba, drums, guitar, and voice.

Concerts and Events
Every term musicians at TAS take part in a major concert performance or the annual ‘Rock under the stars’ which gives our rock bands at the school the opportunity to perform. TAS musicians perform at major school events such as Trinity Day, Gala night and Speech Night, as well as off-site concerts and community performances during the year. TAS choirs and ensembles have often successfully taken part in the Cairns and District Junior Eisteddfod.

TAS Music Workshops
TAS Music Workshops, often held at the start of the year, provide students with an occasion to learn new material and sharpen their skills, offering further opportunities for development, education and performance practice. In both 2019 and 2020 students worked under the instruction of Professor Rob McWilliams – a renowned music educator.

Opportunities for Musical Growth
The foundation of the TAS Instrumental Music program begins with the voluntary Year 3 String Program, which offers each student introductory group lessons on the violin, viola or cello. In Year 5, students again get the opportunity to explore selected instruments with the Wind & Brass Program. Students are invited in Year 7 to have a course of free tuition on a variety of orchestra instruments in our ‘FanTAStic Instrument’ Program. Many students who commence these programs go on to individual lessons on their chosen instruments and as a result our musical groups continue to grow in strength and accomplishment.

TAS Orchestra, Choirs & Bands

• Choirs are an integral part of the TAS music program. TAS Voices is open to all secondary school students and both primary school campuses have a choir for students in age groups from the Prep to Year 2 and from Years 3 to 6. 
• Orchestral Band combines the talents of our top orchestral musicians from Year 6 to 12.
• TAS String Ensemble is open to all string players in the secondary school and experienced primary students
• TAS Rock Bands are offered to students from Years 2 to 12 and is a feature at the annual “Rock Under the Stars” performance
• Small Ensembles – As musical talent develops, students are encouraged to play in small ensembles. These have been many and varied and have included a string quartet, piano trio, clarinet choir, flute ensemble and sax pack. These groups perform on many occasions, both at school and for community events.

All Choirs, Bands and Ensembles frequently  play for school events and celebrations as well as in off-site competitions. 

TAS Music is committed to training young musicians who are musically informed and literate and who can confidently play their chosen instrument in solo and ensemble settings. TAS Music recognises that the ability to play an instrument or sing in a choir is a skill that can be nurtured and developed into a life-long passion for, and engagement with, the music community of Australia.