Ten Riverina students have put their hand up and auditioned for a featured artist role in this year’s Schools Spectacular. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
For only the second time, The Riverina Conservatorium of Music has hosted auditions for the biggest variety show for schools in the world, Schools Spectacular.
With more than 5500 students from across NSW participating, the event has been running since 1983.
This year, 10 students from the Riverina auditioned to be one of the event’s featured singers in hopes of taking them one step closer to a successful career in performance.
Wagga High’s Jazmin Castle has already experienced the bright lights of the Schools Spectacular and can’t wait to get involved again.
“I’ve always really liked watching dancing and singing things on TV such as High Five and The Wiggles,” she said.
“I really have always just wanted to aspire to be like someone who is able to have opportunities to perform in front of such a large audience and even on television and School Spec, which has definitely done that for me.
“When I first heard about School Spec, there were other students at my school who had done it in the mass choir, and I really wanted to audition, but my teachers turned me down and said, ‘No, it’s just not your time yet, we’ll get there.’
“The next year I was in Year 4, this was 2018; I auditioned for a featured artist and I made it through all four rounds, and that was my first year of School Spec, and it was just such a joy.
“I think I am the youngest featured artist that has done School Spec.”
Another young singer looking to make it to School Spectacular for the first time as a featured artist is Leeton’s Sadie Tiffin who applied to the auditions after being involved with her school choir.
“Our choir got entered in … last year’s, and then from there I was amazed by all these featured artists,” she said.
“I talked to my music teacher, who then showed me through the audition process and I just went from there.
“This process has been amazing, learning all the different techniques and meeting all these fun new people. For me, that’s what the Spec is really about.”
Schools Spectacular Creative Director Sonja Sjolander said the team were on the hunt for ‘remarkable’ talent this year in diverse skill areas to suit this year’s theme.
“It makes a difference meeting students where they’re at, rather than asking them to come to Sydney; last year we found that students were so much more comfortable in their local area and gave a more authentic performance,” Ms Sjolander said.
“It’s also about demystifying the audition process and giving the students more time to ask questions and meet the team to find out more about the whole process.
“The day isn’t just about applying for this year’s Schools Spectacular, but about helping students to develop skills at the local level to help them in further creative and performing arts pursuits.
“The workshops are designed to prepare students for leading performances on both smaller regional stages and bigger settings and give students access to programs that have not previously been as accessible for students outside larger hubs.
“There’s quite a hot spot of interest outside of Sydney, so to be in the students’ home regions and give them further insight into what Schools Spectacular auditions and arts programs are all about, is beneficial to all involved.”
Loading ...
