2025 HSC Selections and Nominations

ARTEXPRESS

ARTEXPRESS presents a selection of outstanding bodies of work by HSC Visual Arts students in NSW.

Selection – Visual Arts Major Design Project

Elissa Kim – Columned Continuum 
'My artworks aim to show an appreciation of traditional craft, highlighting the lack of it in the modern world today. The different figures embody the significance of history and culture, as it lies within architecture (pillars) representative of that specific time. The use of pillars as the main structure is pertinent as it allows incorporation of patterns and decorous style which are important in representing a period’s values and beliefs. Other than the physical aspect, the pillars hold a metaphorical significance, as it holds connotations of being the supporting system and structure of bigger structures like how old time architecture supports and builds the foundation of what surrounds us today. The large scale of my panels aim to be confronting and eye-opening, criticising how less and less of the emotional, cultural and historical value is represented and appreciated in modern society.' – Elissa

CALLBACK

CALLBACK presents a selection of outstanding major works by HSC Dance students in NSW including core performance and composition.

Selection – Core Composition

Erin Clowes – Core Composition – Voodoo Doll

Nominations

Kristina Bitar – Core Composition – Boiling

Erin Clowes
Core Performance – Catch Catch Me Now
Core Composition – Voodoo Doll
Major Study Performance – Reversed

ENCORE

ENCORE presents a selection of outstanding major works by HSC Music students in NSW including performance and musicology.

Nominations – Music Performance

Tiffany Chong
Tiffany is an accomplished and dedicated pianist whose ENCORE nomination celebrates both her technical skill and expressive maturity. Over her program she delivered six significant works: the graceful Valse of the Flowers by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the powerful Toccatta by Aram Khachaturian, the evocative Australian contemporary piece Another Look at Autumn by Nigel Sabin, the lively Starburst by Ann Carr‑Boyd, the mature Polonaise in F Minor Op. 71 No. 3 by Frédéric Chopin, and the expressive Sonata Op. 7 Andante Molto by Edvard Grieg. In each, Tiffany demonstrated both technical fluency and creative interpretation. She actively sought feedback, applied it consistently, and honed her artistry through thoughtful practice – her journey over the course of the HSC shows significant growth and a confident musical voice.

Ava Parvis
Ava is an outstanding pianist who performed four pieces to a very high standard, demonstrating technical skills and mature musical expression. She performed the exhilarating Fantastie Impromptu by Chopin, a highly evocative performance of contemporary work Black Earth by Fazil Say, a beautiful rendition of Misty the popular jazz standard, and Jucaro Rhumba by Margaret Brandman that was full of character and energy.  Ava worked so hard over the two years of the Music 1 HSC course and improved exponentially. She wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfection and dedicated many hours of daily piano practice to fulfil her goals. 

Khushii Varma
Khushii is a gifted percussionist whose ENCORE nomination acknowledges her musical excellence and spirited involvement. She performed four compelling works – Tribal Grooves by Anthony Brahe, Concert Piece by Malcolm Arnold, Sonata for Timpani by John Beck, and Inspirations Diabolique by Rickey Tagawa – each delivered with technical clarity and expressive flair. Beyond her solo performances, Khushii immersed herself in the Music department, performing in bands and serving as snare-drum in cadets, fully embracing the life of music.

Nomination – Music Composition

Mia Johnston
Mia wrote three outstanding compositions this year, each very different but woven together by her playful compositional voice. Her Core composition was inspired by Australian Jazz greats such as Judy Bailey – a swinging, raucous big band piece with catchy melodies and surprising moments. Her extension pieces delved into more niche art music subgenres. She composed a string quartet inspired by the unique landscapes of Argentina, with Piazzolla-style tango colours. Finally, she wrote a punchy brass quartet, taking advantage of the deep resonance of the Tuba and the elasticity of the trumpet.

OnSTAGE

OnSTAGE is an annual showcase of HSC Drama performances and individual projects that will be held at the Seymour Centre from Saturday 7 February to Friday 13 February 2026.

Selection – Individual Project

Ava Eshragi – Symbols of Brides on Stage

Nominations – Individual Project

• Christina Coffey – Applied Research: Robert Lepage
• Ava Eshragi – Symbols of Brides on Stage

Christina and Ava undertook an Applied Research Project in lieu of a performance or design project for their Individual Project. Christina researched the Canadian practitioner, Robert Lepage and applied his techniques to a practical workshop with Year 11 students to test their relevance in contemporary Sydney. Ava viewed live theatre productions that used bridal characters and imagery to assess their cultural significance. Both students were outstanding and their works were complex and sophisticated.

Nomination – Group Performance

Congratulations to Amelia Rose Armstrong, Ella Baker, Evie Papamanuel and Macy Anne Tanner-Black. Their performance of The Valium Girls was nominated for possible inclusion in OnSTAGE. 

Nominations – Individual Performance

The following students' Individual Performance were nominated for possible inclusion in OnSTAGE:

• Ella Baker – Anne Boleyn
• Olivia Cassell – The Age of Consent
• Imogen Luo Raju – Rebecca 6.24
• Evie Papamanuel – Spring Awakening 6.56

SHAPE

SHAPE is a selection of outstanding projects from HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students and will be held at the University of Technology, Sydney from Monday 16 March 2026 to Saturday 11 April 2026.

Nomination – Industrial Technology Major Design Project

Jasmine Fordyce
Jasmine’s HSC Multimedia project is a bold and emotionally layered short film that combines 2D animation with live action footage. Her work showcases a strong grasp of visual storytelling, atmosphere, and aesthetic cohesion, with a style influenced by indie and arthouse cinema. Through original animation and carefully composed cinematography, Jasmine explores themes of memory, grief, and transformation. Her folio reveals a clear and mature creative process, from concept sketches and research to compositing, colour grading, and editing, all culminating in a project that feels both personal and cinematic.

Nominations – Design and Technology Major Design Project

Maya Al-Soufi 
Modular High Chair (Furniture design)
For her Major Design Project Maya decided to create a multifunctional, compact highchair that addresses the challenges of limited living space and financial constraints faced by young families in Germany and Australia. The design is constructed from Sily oak provides a single, adaptable seating solution that evolves with the child from infancy to early childhood, reducing the need for multiple purchases and minimising environmental impact.

Maya’s project addressed the challenges of limited living space and rising housing costs. This resulted in the development of a multifunctional child’s highchair that is compact, transformable, and user-friendly. The highchair product is intended to extend the usability and lifespan of a single furniture piece by incorporating adjustable features (such as height modulation and detachable components) that allow it to be used in various environments, including homes with standard dining tables, bench seating, or countertop seating with the aim to reduce the need for multiple child-specific furniture items as the child grows, easing financial and spatial stress for families living in compact or high-cost housing.

Olivia Walker 
Water Saving Horticulture System (Furniture/System design)
Olivia decided to design a solution to outdoor water use that prevents wastage and over and underwatering. This was achieved through the design and construction of an innovative space saving plant stand that can filtrate and reuse water in a self-sufficient manner. It was a functional and visually appealing piece that can withstand the harsh outdoor environments due to the use of sustainable materials.

Olivia’s design involved a solution to outdoor water use that aims to prevents water wastage and over watering. This resulted in the creation of a visually appealing and functional plant stand made from sustainable materials that can filtrate and reuse water in a self-sufficient manner. The plant stand can withstand the elements in outdoor conditions.

Nomination – Textile and Design Major Design Project

Isabella Dodd Shipsey 
With inspirations depicted from the fairytale The Little Mermaid and designer Iris Van Herpen, the textile art skirt and top set aims to echo the timeless nature of storytelling and ethereal, intricate beauty of marine life, with using traditional aquatic hues and various decorative techniques. Techniques that have been included to reflect the inspiration are dye sublimation printing on both the skirt yoke and top, gold glitter Cricut cut Heat Transfer Vinyl also adorning the skirt yoke and the top, gold, pearl and blue cording on skirt yoke, gold double thread stitching on the top, machine embroidered starfish and shells and beading and buttons. The skirt is made from several layers of handkerchief hem georgette squares and curls that have a roll hem finish. 

'Textiles & Design has enabled me to flourish in my individuality and confidence by giving me a platform to express my creativity through innovative designs.' – Isabella

V-Fest, Film

V-Fest is a distinguished student film festival held each year.

Congratulations to Eve Banyer for her V-Fest 2025 selection! Eve’s creativity has been recognised with selection into the Senior Section of V-Fest 2025. Her outstanding short film ‘Biloela’ will be proudly screened at the historic Chauvel Cinema on Monday 8 December 2025.

If you would like to support Eve and attend this evening, click here for the invitation.

Young Writers HSC English Extension 2

Ava Eshragi's English Extension Two Major Work was nominated for possible inclusion for Young Writers.

This showcase presents a selection of outstanding major works by HSC English Extension 2 students in NSW across a range of literary forms with the selected works published in Young Writers.

Ava’s work, ‘Hystery’, a suite of poetic dramatic monologues, reimagines the female characters of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in a modern America. Her poetry’s rich lyricism and imaginative use of form work to challenge preconceptions about womanhood and reductive female archetypes, returning to these characters a sense of voice and agency. Her work interpolates canonical narratives with contemporary commentary on intersectional feminism.