Music

Enquiries

Music Festivals
The Arts Unit
concerts.artsunit@det.nsw.edu.au

Festivals

Festivals provide high-quality learning and performing opportunities for students and teachers from NSW public schools. Music festivals encompass instrumental and vocal ensembles, with students having the chance to learn diverse, challenging and fun repertoire with industry experts while coming together to share and celebrate their passion for music.

 

On this page

Programs

Newcastle / Lake Macquarie

Bandfest Newcastle

Local arts program Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
An opportunity for school bands to display their progress over the year, observe other bands and receive constructive feedback from recognised musical experts.
Bathurst

Bathurst Small Schools CAPA Festival

Local arts program Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 6
Students work collaboratively with other small schools to perform in a professional venue.
Sydney

Cantabile Music Festival

Local arts program Music
Years 3 to 6
The Festival showcases individual band and orchestral items as well as the choral skills of the festival's combined primary school choir.
Wyong

Central Coast Choral Festival

Local arts program Music

The Central Coast Choral Festival provides an opportunity for NSW public schools to come together biannually to showcase high-quality individual items and massed choral events.
Young

Cherry Jam

Local arts program Dance Drama Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
Schools collaborate on combined items and showcase their performance pieces.
Newcastle / Lake Macquarie

Choralfest Newcastle

Local arts program Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
The festival provides a great opportunity for choristers to showcase their developing skills, observe other performances, and receive constructive feedback from recognised musical experts.
Wagga Wagga

CHORDS

Local arts program Dance Music
Years 3 to 6
Local students gain invaluable experience on stage.

Compass Music Festival

Program Music
Years 3 to 12 students and teachers
Opportunity for regional and rural students to perform in a local festival.
Coffs Harbour

Compass Music Festival – Coffs Harbour

Local arts program Music
Year 3 to 12 students and teachers
A combined public schools performance at Wiigulga Sports Complex.

Festival of Choral Music

Program Music
Years 3 to 6 students and teachers
The Festival of Choral Music (FoCM) brings students from across NSW to perform selected repertoire in combined mass choirs guided by specialist choral teachers.

Festival of Instrumental Music

Program Music
Years 3 to 6 students and teachers
The Festival of Instrumental Music (FoIM) presents concerts of diverse and engaging repertoire, featuring massed recorder and string ensembles.

In Concert

Program Music
Years 7 to 12 students and teachers
Students have the opportunity to perform a range of significant choral works in a dazzling choral and instrumental music showcase.  Teachers engage in quality professional learning delivered by experts.

Instrumental and vocal items

Program Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
Performance opportunities for outstanding instrumental and vocal items.
Griffith

KROP

Local arts program Dance Drama Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
Showcasing performances by students in a professional setting.

Primary Proms

Program Music
Year 3 and 4 students and teachers
The Primary Proms features a combined choir together with outstanding instrumental and vocal items from public schools across NSW. 
Sydney and Regional NSW

Pulse

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
A series of large-scale events providing high-quality performance opportunities.
Sydney Olympic Park

Pulse Alive

Local arts program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
This large-scale performing arts event provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Broken Hill

Pulse Broken Hill

Local arts program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Broken Hill is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Moree

Pulse Moree

Local arts program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Moree is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Mildura

Pulse Sunraysia

Local arts program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Sunraysia is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Bega

SCLC Performing Arts Festival

Local arts program Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12
A performance extravaganza showcasing students and staff across the Sapphire Coast Learning Community.
Forster

Shine On

Local arts program Dance Drama Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
A combined festival to develop and showcase the creative talents of students and staff from across the Great Lakes Learning Community.
Campbelltown

Shining Stars

Local arts program Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Students engage in a relevant and meaningful arts education program.
Nowra

Shoalhaven Choral Music Festival

Local arts program Music
Kindergarten to Year 6
The festival showcases the choral talents of primary schools within the Wollongong area featuring different repertoire and schools each night.
Monaro

Snowy Monaro Performing Arts Festival

Local arts program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Performing arts festival featuring schools items in dance, drama and music for public schools across Eden Monaro and beyond.
Wollongong

Southern Illawarra Music Festival

Local arts program Music
Kindergarten to Year 6
The festival showcases school choral groups in a fun, inclusive programs including combined massed choir items and individual school choirs.
Wollongong

Southern Stars

Local arts program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
An exciting arena event providing valuable performance and learning opportunities for students in the arts.
Sydney Olympic Park

SpecFest

Program Dance Drama Music
SpecFest is the ultimate outdoor entertainment hub with great food, activations and chill-out zones for the whole family to enjoy.
Newcastle

Star Struck

Local arts program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
An exciting arena event that promotes excellence in arts education.
Chatswood

Sydney NorthWest Music Festival

Local arts program Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
An annual showcase of individual items and combined school choirs provide an opportunity to develop, refine and highlight music and performance skills in a premiere performance venue.

The Idea of North

Program Music
Years 7 to 12
The Arts Unit collaborates with The Idea of North to promote choral singing. Each day of the festival ends with a public concert.
Wollongong

Wollongong Schools Choral Festival

Local arts program Music
Kindergarten to Year 6
The festival showcases the choral talents of primary schools within the Wollongong area featuring different repertoire and schools each night.
Back to index

Upcoming applications

No upcoming events currently.
Back to index

Upcoming events

Young peopl in an ensemble of stringed instruments.

Festival of Instrumental Music – recorder preliminary rehearsals

Meadowbank
Years 3 to 6 students and teachers
  • Acacia rehearsal – Monday 23 June 2025, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
  • Banksia rehearsal – Tuesday 24 June 2025, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
  • Jacaranda rehearsal – Wednesday 25 June 2025, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
  • Mimosa rehearsal – Thursday 26 June 2025, 10 am to 1:30 pm
Young peopl in an ensemble of stringed instruments.

Festival of Instrumental Music – strings preliminary rehearsals

Meadowbank
Years 3 to 6 students and teachers
  • Acacia rehearsal – Monday 23 June 2025, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
  • Banksia rehearsal – Tuesday 24 June 2025, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
  • Jacaranda rehearsal – Wednesday 25 June 2025, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
  • Mimosa rehearsal – Thursday 26 June 2025, 10 am to 1:30 pm
A large choir and stringed ensemble of students performing at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Festival of Choral Music – preliminary rehearsals

Sydney
Years 3 to 6 students
  • Argyle rehearsal: Monday 30 June 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm 
  • Australis rehearsal: Tuesday 1 July 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm 
  • Barangaroo rehearsal: Wednesday 2 July 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm 
  • Bennelong rehearsal: Thursday 3 July 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm
  • Endeavour rehearsal: Friday 4 July 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm
A large choir and stringed ensemble of students performing at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Festival of Choral Music

Sydney
Years 3 to 6 students
  • Argyle concert: Mon 4 Aug 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Australis concert: Tue 5 Aug 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Barangaroo concert: Wed 6 Aug 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Bennelong concert: Thu 7 Aug 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Endeavour concert: Fri 8 Aug 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Young peopl in an ensemble of stringed instruments.

Festival of Instrumental Music

Sydney
Years 3 to 6 students and teachers
  • Acacia Concert: Mon 25 Aug 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Banksia Concert: Tue 26 Aug 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Jacaranda Concert: Mon 8 Sep 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Mimosa Concert: Tue 9 Sep 2025, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
A row of students singing in the Combined Primary Choir.

Primary Proms – rehearsals

Sydney
Year 3 and 4 students and teachers
  • Brindabella rehearsal: Mon 1 Sept 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm
  • Coorong rehearsal: Tue 2 Sept 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm
  • Daintree rehearsal: Wed 3 Sept 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm
  • Kakadu rehearsal: Thu 4 Sept 2025, 9:30 am to 1 pm
A row of students singing in the Combined Primary Choir.

Primary Proms

Sydney
Year 3 and 4 students and teachers
  • Brindabella concert: Mon 22 Sept 2025, 7:00 pm
  • Coorong concert: Tues 23 Sept 2025, 7:00 pm
  • Daintree concert: Wed 24 Sept 2025, 7:00 pm
  • Kakadu Concert: Thu 25 Sept 2025, 7:00 pm
Back to index