For thousands of students from public schools across New South Wales (NSW), today’s final day of the annual Festival of Choral Music at the Sydney Opera House represents the ultimate celebration of their music education.
The festival – held over four nights – sees more than 120 public schools come together in Australia’s premier concert hall to form the ultimate state-wide choir.
With pieces ranging from modern musical hits to choral classics, the repertoire includes original work from a diverse range of renowned Australian composers including Tim Minchin, Paul Jarman, and Ian Jefferson.
A range of instrumental ensembles made up of public school students will accompany the choir, including the NSW Public Schools Festival Orchestra and Stage Band.
Making musical memories
The NSW Department of Education’s Director of Arts, Sports, and Initiatives, Jordi Austin, said the Festival of Choral Music is a highlight for many school students, giving them an unforgettable performance opportunity.
“Students travel from the North Coast, Central West to the Snowy Mountains and everywhere in between to be part of the festival, and it’s incredibly exciting to bring together so much talent into one space”.
“Each student is able to make so many incredible memories, and challenge themselves as musicians as they perform a wide variety of pieces in the challenging repertoire”.
“It’s a spectacular display of talent from our NSW public schools, and an excellent reflection of the determination of students to develop their skills, and the commitment of teachers to provide quality music education,” Ms Austin said.
The annual Festival of Choral Music concert series for NSW public school students is coordinated by the Department of Education’s Arts Unit and enables students and their teachers to enhance their music education in a world-class performing experience.
Each year, the Arts Unit directly delivers programs and events to 64,000 students and 8,600 teachers, with almost 600,000 additional students benefiting from its teaching and learning resources.
The 2023 Festival of Choral Music’s final performance will be held at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday, 19 September.
