Festival of Music

The Adelaide Festival Theatre stage was home to over 500 students from 20 different schools on Tuesday September 19 as Concert #6 in the annual Festival of Music kicked off. But how does a choir from YP end up on the Adelaide Festival Theatre stage?

1 | Rehearsals start

The journey from the PAC to the Festival Theatre is a long one each year, beginning in Term 1 as choir teacher Debbie Schwartz begins working with the Primary Choir to learn the dozen songs that are part of the show.

2 | Assessment time

Choir assessments are in April, with an assessor travelling to each of the schools to take workshops and provide feedback.

3 | Port Pirie

Rehearsals continue each week until mid-September when the choir participates in either the Port Pirie Festival of Music of the East of the Ranges concert.

4 | Magic Millions

The ‘Magic Millions’ rehearsal is also in September, with the choir travelling to Morphetville Race Track for a huge rehearsal with the other schools who will perform on the same concert night as us.

5 | Showtime!

Finally it’s showtime! Students travelled to Adelaide then gathered backstage at midday to have first taste of the stage at a three hour rehearsal. Tea was a boxed lunch (thank you Villi’s) out in the rotunda in Rymill Park and exercise was a walk over the bridge to Adelaide Oval and a return trip over the King William Road bridge. The students returned backstage at 6pm and the countdown to the performance began!

6 | Performance

The huge audience enjoyed every aspect of the show, from the beautiful and emotive singing through to the entertaining dancing and theatrical effects.

7 | Special Guest artists

The school was also represented by members of the Vocal Ensemble who thrilled the audience as one of the four special guest artists. This was a huge deal – over a hundred different acts audition, many from specialist high schools!

8 | Take a bow!

It was a spectacular event that our students and staff enjoyed being a part of! Thank you to all the families who supported their children at the show and to our staff who worked with the students throughout the year. A huge thank you to Debbie Schwartz for her leadership and teaching, and to our choir support teachers Betina Davies and Tim Tuck.