Spirit of the Arts Festival participants encouraged to “put on Christ”
01 September 2022
The 33rd Spirit of the Arts Performing Arts Festival for Catholic schools and colleges held from 21 July to 12 September, was officially opened with a Praise and Worship gathering held on Thursday 21 July at St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth.
Comprising of the Performing Arts Festival and Angelico Art Exhibition, the term-long festival celebrates artistic creativity and talent. This year’s festival includes 15,000 students from 90 Catholic schools, performing in categories of drama, music production, scripture reading, sacred choral music, big band and jazz combo, and more.
Attendees included Catholic Arts Chair Darryl Winsor, Catholic Arts staff, members of the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia, Notre Dame School of Education Dean Prof Caroline Mansfield, staff, and student representatives.
“I would like to acknowledge the students who will be participating in this year’s festival and thank their teachers for their support and guidance.”
CEWA (Catholic Education Western Australia) Deputy Executive Director Wayne Bull.
At the Praise and Worship Liturgy to mark the start of the festival, St Mary’s Cathedral Music Director Jacinta Jakovcevic spoke about her involvement with the festival in previous years, and her love for mentoring young people, especially in the space of sacred music.
“For many years, I was blessed to accompany many of the school choirs, vocal soloists and instrumentalists who took part in the festival and was involved with their preparations, rehearsals and coaching,” she said.
“I think it is very exciting that our young students are encountering and engaging with sacred music and taking pride in singing it,” she added.
The schools that participated in the Secondary Sacred Choral section include Mandurah Catholic College, Trinity College, Holy Cross College, La Salle College, Mercedes College, Sacred Heart College, Newman College, and Aquinas College.
To watch the performances from the Sacred Choral event, go to: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRecordPerth/videos
