Winmalee High School's 17^th Annual Autumn Artfest in 2008!

Firstly, we had the delightful Gavin Lockley as our opening presenter.

Gavin Lockley is an Australian composer, conductor, singer and musicologist. He has performed on national television and on tour across Europe, South-East Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

Gavin began his career in the role of Gavroche for Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Miserables at the Theatre Royal. After completing a Bachelor of Music in 1999, Gavin was the recipient of the Foundation for Young Australians Centenary Scholarship enabling him to study in Germany for two years. Gavin completed his Masters in Music at Sydney University in 2004. In 2003, Gavin joined the world renowned act The Three Waiters, which has seen him perform throughout Australia and the Asia-pacific region.

Gavin made his debut recording for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2004 as both conductor and singer, performing the works of Hanns Eisler. He was an associate artist with the Anthony Warlow/Lesley Garrett Australian tour of The Magic of the Music, as well as a supporting artist for the Russell Watson Australasian Tour of Amore Musica. In the same year, Gavin was composer and conductor for the Australian tour of Cavalcade: Reins of Fire. In 2007, he assistant conducted the opera Dead Man Walking for presenter Andrew McManus at the State Theatre, Sydney.

In 2006 Gavin was artistic director for a series of concerts for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia conducting performances at Australia House in London and City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney. His epic new work, the six-movement Symphony of Australia, received its world premiere performance at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in November 2007.

The 2007 featured Artist was Margaret Hart.

Margaret Hart is a teacher and is Convenor of Art Beat Workshop (a workshop of women artists). Margaret spent four years at Hornsby Art College, winning the drawing prize at the conclusion of the course. The course comprised of painting, drawing, art history, photography and colour, and composition to name a few.

Her illustrious tutors included such names as Margaret Woodland (who has achieved great legend with her art and is one of Australia’s ‘treasures’), Clem Millwood, Ron Hogan and Daryl Locke.

After owning two art shops, Margaret started a women’s cooperative painting group and has enjoyed the company and the ‘throwing around’ of ideas for 20 years.

“I paint in a vigorous manner, using lots of colour and vibrancy both in landscape and still life, often in the contemporary style, devising mediums and glazes to enhance interest. Whilst painting absorbs a great deal of my time, I enjoy the company of my seven grandchildren and my garden. Prior to becoming an artist, I spent 15 years nursing before deciding to return to college to enjoy fine arts.”

Margaret holds private exhibitions at the Balmain Watch Tower Gallery.

The Art and Craft Prize winners were...

The Artfest raffle was on again!

Tickets were still only a dollar with prizes and their sponsors as listed below.

Last, but by no means least, we had another spectacular entertainment lineup. This included musical performances, performing arts and world class Irish dancing. There were individual musicians as well as Winmalee High School's very own Big Band along with dramatic works and dance / drama items, just to name a few.