Announcing our 2020 Professional Development Workshops for Educators
At the Australian School of Performing Arts, we are deeply passionate about building the capacity of specialist and classroom teachers. Every year we run professional development programs designed to equip teachers with the skills and knowledge to deliver vibrant and sustainable performing arts programs in their schools.
We are excited to announce our NEW series of workshops for teachers which will be delivered in Melbourne AND Sydney in 2020!
Our professional development series will be delivered over three workshops by four of our most senior instructors, and include an additional networking evening at the Australian School of Performing Arts Head Office.
Teachers will leave each session with practical strategies that can be directly applied in their schools, in addition to digital resources that extend on activities learned during the session. Participants will gain tools that are directly transferable to arts and non-arts based classrooms, to help engage and inspire their students.
This year we are also adding a special ‘Networking Night’ at the Australian School of Performing Arts Head Office. This is an invaluable opportunity for teachers to network with industry peers, and to gather, connect, and share about their experiences teaching performing arts in a range of settings.
Find out all of the details below for the Melbourne sessions. Sydney dates and times will be announced in the new year.
2020 Teacher Professional Development Workshops
Inspire Your School Choir
Want to make your students sing with glee? Choir director, Jane Hennessy, will share simple and effective tricks of the trade to enable you to launch and run a vibrant school choir that students will want to join.
Suitable for: Primary classroom and specialist music teachers
Melbourne date and time: Friday 28 February, 9:30am-3:30pm
Cost: $190
Delivered by: Jane Hennessy
Spectacular School Concerts
Do you want to put on a show that will blow your school community away, but don’t know where to start? Or do you have all the ideas ready to go, but need a helping hand to bring your production to life? Join Laura Knowling and Anna Joyce as they give you simple and effective tools to create a show-stopping (and stress-free!) performance.
Suitable for: Primary and specialist music teachers
Melbourne date and time: Friday 01 May, 9:30am-3:30pm
Cost: $190
Delivered by: Laura Knowling & Anna Joyce
Performing Arts for Your Classroom
Want to make your curriculum sing? Learn how to incorporate performing arts into your classroom. Whatever your skill level, join Jessica Huggett as she brings music, drama and dance activities to life!
Suitable for: Primary classroom and specialist teachers, casual relief teachers and pre-service teachers
Melbourne date and time: Friday 31 July, 9:30am-3:30pm
Cost: $190
Delivered by: Jessica Huggett
Networking Night
We understand the importance of networking with fellow teachers to share ideas, goals and challenges. This event will give you the opportunity to collaborate with peers and collect some more tips to enhance your teaching experiences in the Performing Arts.
Melbourne date and time: Wednesday 03 June, 4:30pm-6:30pm
Location: Australian School of Performing Arts Head Office – 23—27 Valerie Street, Kew East
Cost: $60 ($50 if booked with a PD Workshop) which includes wine and cheese
Register now
Registrations for all workshops are now open! For more details and to download a registration form, please see our Teacher Professional Development Page.
Learn more about the instructors
Jane Hennessy (Inspire Your School Choir)
Jane Hennessy has tutored with the Australian Girls Choir (AGC) for 21 years and is the National Production Coordinator. With studies in classical and contemporary voice, performance and music education, Jane has extensive experience working with a wide variety of ages and experience levels. Jane has been the Musical Director on AGC international tours, run workshops with students and teachers with ASPA Education and delivered performing arts programs to Indigenous girls in remote Australia through Girls from Oz. She is a passionate educator and conductor who firmly believes in the power of singing and performing arts to build both community connection and individual confidence and identity.
Laura Knowling (Spectacular School Concerts)
Laura Knowling has tutored with the Australian Girls Choir for 11 years, conducting international and national touring choirs and has led choral workshops around Australia. Laura holds a Bachelor of Performance (Jazz) from Elder Conservatorium in South Australia and has worked extensively as a singer across many genres of music. Laura delivers a range of workshops for students with ASPA Education and has been involved in delivering performing arts programs to Indigenous girls in remote Australia through Girls from Oz since 2010.
Read Laura’s tips for concert preparation in our article ‘Concert Prep: Polishing Repertoire’
Anna Joyce (Spectacular School Concerts)
Anna Joyce is a passionate and versatile educator with extensive experience across a range of primary settings and arts disciplines. She has tutored with the Australian Girls Choir for 8 years and has delivered numerous Choral Arts programs across Victoria for ASPA Education. Previously, Anna taught Performing Arts at Melbourne Grammar School and directed and choreographed various school musicals and performances. Anna studied musical theatre at the VCA, dance at Dance Factory and holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts from Monash University. Currently a generalist teacher at Clifton Hill Primary School, Anna balances maths teaching with running choirs at the school.
Jessica Huggett (Performing Arts for Your Classroom)
Jessica Huggett has been a tutor with the Australian Girls Choir for 15 years and is currently the Music Education Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts, Bachelor of Music and a Graduate Diploma in Education from Monash University and has taught classroom music, dance and drama in both primary and secondary schools. Jess is passionate about performing arts education and has enjoyed the opportunity to share this with teachers around Australia through touring as the Music Director for AGC national tours, running workshops with school students and teachers with ASPA Education and delivering performing arts programs to Indigenous girls in remote Australia through Girls from Oz.
