Ever wondered where Melbourne’s brightest young artistic talents hone their skills? That is the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. It is a unique government-funded school specializing in performing and visual arts. The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School is located in the heart of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct in Southbank.
Let us dive into the story of this extraordinary institution. The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School was founded in 1978. It was initially known as the Victorian College of the Arts Technical School. Lenton Parr and Jack Pitt were the founders. The school was conceived as a preparatory institution. It would feed into the tertiary dance and music courses at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 1981, the name was changed to the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.
For many years, the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School shared its campus with the tertiary VCA on St Kilda Road. A significant change occurred in June 2009. The school moved to a new purpose-built facility at 57 Miles Street in Southbank.
What makes the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School special? It is its selective entry process. Students are accepted based on annual auditions and interviews. The school caters to students from Year 7 to Year 12. The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School has an enrollment of around 370 students. All students undertake academic subjects. Half of their day is dedicated to specialized training. They focus on dance music theatre arts or visual arts. The school also provides academic classes. These classes are for secondary students from other institutions. These include the Australian Ballet School and Gymnastics Victoria.
The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School offers a range of VCE studies. These include art biology chemistry dance and drama. Students can also study English French further mathematics and general mathematics. Other subjects include health and human development history literature and mathematical methods. Media music philosophy physics and psychology are also on offer. Additionally students can study art making and exhibiting and theatre studies. Some students explore additional languages. They do this through Distance Education Victoria. Languages include Mandarin Korean Japanese Indonesian German and Spanish.
Notable alumni include Zoë Black a violinist and Rebecca Chambers a pianist. Sonny Chua was a concert pianist and composer. Natalie Gauci is a vocalist. Greg Horsman is a dancer and choreographer. Charlotte Nicdao is an actor. Marshall McGuire is a harpist. Patrick Savage is a film composer. He was also a principal violinist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2011 the VCE median study score was 34. Twenty-seven percent of students achieved a score above 40. The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School is more than just a school. It is a nurturing ground for future stars. It provides a unique educational experience. The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School combines academic rigor with artistic excellence.