He’s now been at the School for three years and says that ‘life outside work centres around [his] two kids’. John also makes an effort to continue his music practice and composing music. Every Tuesday, he conducts a small adult choir and later in the year they will premiere a piece he has written for them. In 2017, John completed a Master of Arts (Arts Management) at RMIT and achieved the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence.
What makes you so passionate about the Performing Arts?
I have never been the best piano player, percussionist, conductor, or singer. But I have been privileged that from a very young age, the arts have given me some extraordinary life learnings and experiences. Being involved in Performing Arts grants you a unique perspective, unobtainable in any other field, on learning, growth, community building and achieving success. I have been involved in so many amazing opportunities in the arts which have been life changing. As a musician I have been lucky enough to tour Italy in the late’90s as a percussionist with the Canberra Youth Orchestra, been an Artistic Director of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Band and produced my own musical ‘Moonflower.’
What plays/productions/musicals have inspired your own creative journey, and how do you incorporate these influences into your practices at Fintona?
My favourite types of shows are minimalist in their direction/interpretation rather than the full razzamatazz types of shows. I enjoy shows when the performers and their amazing abilities on stage are the feature. My favourite recent theatre experiences have been Hamilton, Once and Come From Away. I have been privileged to see many shows in different parts of the world and I always look for the good in every show: the clever staging, a brilliant performance, clever use of set and costuming or a great band.
What unique opportunities do you find in working at a school like Fintona?
The thing I love about Fintona as a workplace, is whenever you have an idea of how to strengthen the systems, the programs or the community in the school, you are given a ‘yes let’s do it’ or a ‘yes, and how about we add’ type of response. Ideas and development are strongly supported within the Performing Arts Team and as well from within the administrative and management team. I think most importantly this workplace culture is inspired through the School Motto of ‘do what you do well’ and is transpires throughout the Fintona community. The best part of my role is working with an incredible team, each person brings something different to the table and we all contribute to every event and performance.
In your opinion, what advantages do young women gain from an all-girls educational experience, particularly in the Performing Arts?
I think the advantage that girls at Fintona get, is the opportunity to experience everything and anything. They participate in things they are passionate about alongside exploring new experiences. And all of this is delivered at a very high level. I’m not sure this is necessarily an all-girls thing, but I think it is particularly special to the Fintona community. This is exemplified in events such as the House Drama competition as every student plays a role and although it’s designed as a competition, students learn new skills, contribute their performance or artistry to their piece and there is a real sense of community building throughout the event.
What do you hope the future of Performing Arts looks like?
Throughout my career in the Arts, I’ve worked with the philosophy that being involved in arts learning and arts events are an essential part of growing up. I see involvement in Performing Arts as being integral to who we are as people and some of the greatest and most complex learning experiences young people can have. Within our small community in this part of Melbourne, – it’s important we continue to see the performing arts as essential to this community developing well rounded learners. In that, I hope to see continuing exploration and growth of programming and opportunities in Performing Arts for all girls at Fintona.