Featured items for state music festivals

Schools are invited to nominate outstanding music ensembles and soloists in Kindergarten to Year 12 to perform a featured item at one of the 2025 State music festivals. These performance opportunities are open to all public school students (Years K to 12) and can include music ensembles of all sizes, large or small (including soloists). Items may be instrumental or vocal, and should avoid pre-recorded musical components such as backing tracks.

Items may include, but are not limited to, the following performance types:

• vocal solo
• vocal ensemble
• choir
• instrumental solo
• instrumental ensemble
• symphonic wind orchestra
• concert band
• orchestra
• jazz ensemble
• stage band
• rock band
• percussion ensemble.

Applicants must film an audition video of no more than 5 minutes and submit via a YouTube link using the Featured item application form. See the resources below for tips:

• Top tips for auditioning
• How to upload footage to YouTube (PDF 323.25 KB)

Successful applicants will perform in either the Sydney Opera House or the Sydney Town Hall as part of one of the following festivals:

• Festival of Choral Music
• Festival of Instrumental Music
• Sydney NorthWest Music Festival
• Cantabile Music Festival
• Primary Proms

Schools need to be available for a sound check and staging rehearsal on the day of the concert. If your school is already participating in one of these festivals as part of a massed ensemble, we will endeavour to place your item into the same concert. 

2025 concert dates

Festival of Choral Music 2025 concert dates at the Sydney Opera House

• Argyle concert: Monday 4 August 2025, 6:30 pm
• Australis concert: Tuesday 5 August 2025, 6:30 pm 
• Barangaroo concert: Wednesday 6 August 2025, 6:30 pm
• Bennelong concert: Thursday 7 August 2025, 6:30 pm
• Endeavour concert: Friday 8 August 2025, 6:30 pm​​​​​​

Sydney NorthWest Music Festival concert dates at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith

• Burrendong concert: Tuesday 19 August 2025
• Cawndilla concert: Wednesday 20 August 2025

Sydney NorthWest Music Festival concert dates at The Concourse, Chatswood

• Pinaroo concert: Thursday 21 August 2025
• Wyangan concert: Friday 22 August 2025

Festival of Instrumental Music 2025 concert dates at the Sydney Opera House 

• Acacia concert: Monday 25 August 2025, 6:30 pm 
• Banksia concert: Tuesday 26 August 2025, 6:30 pm 
• Jacaranda concert: Monday 8 September 2025, 6:30 pm
• Mimosa concert: Tuesday 9 September 2025, 6:30 pm

Cantabile Music Festival 2025 concert dates at the Sydney Opera House

• Monday 15 September 2025, 7:00 pm

Primary Proms 2025 concert dates at the Sydney Town Hall

• Brindabella concert: Monday 22 September 2025, 7:00 pm
• Coorong concert: Tuesday 23 September 2025, 7:00 pm 
• Daintree concert: Wednesday 24 September 2025, 7:00 pm 
• Kakadu concert: Thursday 25 September 2025, 7:00 pm

For more information on each festival, visit the links below or contact luke.wallace20@det.nsw.edu.au

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music has partnered with the Arts Unit to provide additional opportunities for ensembles from schools outside of metro-Sydney who are successful in auditioning for a featured item at one of our festivals. A member of the Sydney Conservatorium staff will travel to your school to conduct a workshop with your ensemble in the lead up to your performance in Sydney. This opportunity will be offered to successful ensembles of 4 or more students who attend a NSW public school outside of metro-Sydney, and will be subject to staff availability.