Categories: News

Schools Spectacular celebrates 30th anniversary with featured artists

It’s 2013, and that means there have been “30 Spectacular Years” of the Schools Spectacular. To celebrate, 42 students specially chosen from schools across NSW will be showcased on stage as Featured Artists.

This year’s event will be held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre for four performances only on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November.

State School’s Spectacular alumni, David Harris. Image by Blueprint Studios

Commencing in 1984, the Schools Spectacular has become a highlight of Australia’s arts and cultural calendar – it’s one of Australia’s most popular annual variety shows.

The Featured Artists will be joined by 3,600 students from 400 schools, a 1,300 voice choir, an 80-piece symphony orchestra and 2,000 dancers as well as rock, jazz, brass and marching bands. The 42 featured artists span the spectrum of talent. There are singer-songwriters, rappers, opera and country singers, music theatre lovers, hip-hop and contemporary dancers, and beat boxers.

They come from inner Sydney, surrounding suburbs and a number of rural and remote locations, including: Annandale, Alfords Point, Ashbury, Belrose, Berowra Heights, Bilgola, Bradbury, Busby, Carlingford, Castle Hill, Chipping Norton, Chittaway Bay, Como, Croydon Park, Davidson, Drummoyne, Dulwich Hill, East Lismore, East Ryde, Falconbridge, Glenorie, Haberfield, Holsworthy, Hurlstone Park, Mortdale, Mount Austin, Murwillumbah, Newcastle, Oxley Vale, Queens Park, Russell Lea, Shell Cove, Tamworth, Waitara, Wollongong, Winston Hills, Yanco and Yarramundi.

Featured Artists are chosen after an extensive audition process. Many have gone on to reach great heights in the music industry. Alumnae include Human Nature; Australia’s Got Talent 2011 Winner Jack Vidgen, The Voice finalists Diana Rouvas and Darren Percival, 2012 X Factor finalist Angel Tupai, ARIA winners Paulini and Angus and Julia Stone; music theatre stars David Harris, Lucy Maunder, Amanda Harrison, Julie Goodwin, Trevor Ashley and country singers The McClymonts, Felicity Urquhart and Darren Coggan.

Tickets range from $41.50 – $63.00. Family passes are available.

For bookings visit www.ticketmaster.com.au or call136 100.

For more information check out www.schoolsspectacular.com.au or www.facebook.com/schoolsspectacular

Cassie Tongue

Cassie is a theatre critic and arts writer in Sydney, and was the deputy editor of AussieTheatre. She has written for The Guardian, Time Out Sydney, Daily Review, and BroadwayWorld Australia. She is a voter for the Sydney Theatre Awards.