Rehearsal and performance date

Wednesday 28 May 2025 (Term 2 Week 5)

Schools participating in the Compass Music Festival will come together to rehearse throughout the day and perform an evening concert.

Combined ensembles

The combined ensembles include:

• combined secondary choir (Years 7 to 12)
• combined primary choir (Years 3 to 6)
• combined recorder ensemble (Years 3 to 12)

There is no audition required for the combined ensembles. All schools that apply will be accepted.

Repertoire

The repertoire for combined ensembles will be made up of selections from:

• 2025 In Concert Secondary Choral Festival  (combined secondary choir)
• 2025 Festival of Choral Music (combined primary choir)
• 2025 Festival of Instrumental Music (combined recorder ensemble).

All of the combined ensembles will perform a combined opening and finale item as part of a massed choir.

Cost

• A participation fee of $20.00 per student will be payable upon confirmation of numbers late Term 1, 2025. 
• Each participating student and teacher will receive a specially designed T-shirt to wear at the performance.

Professional learning and resources

• Teachers will receive a master copy of the relevant repertoire (choir and/or recorders) from which to make copies for every participating student.
• Access to a range of online repertoire resources will become available soon.
• Teachers from participating schools are encouraged to attend in-person teachers’ professional development workshops for the musical component in which their school is involved.

Local teacher professional development workshops available to participating schools include:

• Compass primary choir workshop Term 1 Week 5
  Monday 24 February 2025 at Orange Regional Conservatorium 9 am to 11:30 am
• Compass recorder workshop Term 1 Week 5
  Monday 24 February 2025 at Orange Regional Conservatorium 12 pm to 2:30 pm
• Compass secondary choir workshop Term 1 Week 5
  Monday 24 February 2025 at Orange Regional Conservatorium (TBC)

Sydney teacher professional development workshops also covering the Compass repertoire include:

• Festival of Instrumental Music recorder workshop Wednesday 12 February 2025 at Sydney Conservatorium of Music from 9 am to 2 pm
• In Concert secondary choir workshop Monday 3 March 2025 at The Arts Unit, Lewisham 9 am to 3 pm
• Festival of Choral Music primary choir workshop Friday 14 February 2025 at Sydney Conservatorium of Music from 9 am to 2 pm.

Teachers may choose to attend their local professional development workshop and/or the corresponding Sydney workshop. Registrations for each workshop will open early in Term 1 2024.

Featured ensemble opportunity

In 2025, performance opportunities are available for outstanding individual school instrumental and vocal items at Compass Music Festival – Central West. Solos, duets, or small ensembles are encouraged to apply. Pieces will be selected on the basis of providing high quality and variety to the concert.  

Applicants must be available for a sound check on Tuesday 27 May and the evening performance on Wednesday 28 May 2025.

Applications for featured performers will open in Term 1 2025.

VET Entertainment

There are opportunities for Entertainment Industry (VET) students to undertake a work placement at this event. VET Entertainment teachers should contact Cheryl Walker, Arts Coordination Officer for further information.

Applications for featured performers will open in Term 1 2025.

Enquiries

For further information concerning the Compass Music Festival – Far South Coast please contact Cheryl Walker, Arts Coordination Officer, The Arts Unit – email: cheryl.j.walker@det.nsw.edu.au

Venue

Canobolas Rural Technology High School
142 Icely Road
Orange NSW 2800
Australia