Primary Proms

The Arts Unit offers two state-level primary choral festivals:

Primary Proms
Entry level choral repertoire for students in Years 3 to 6.
This festival is best for schools with a new or developing choral program.
See below for more information on the Primary Proms.

Festival of Choral Music
Challenging choral repertoire for students in Years 3 to 6.
This festival is best for schools with an established choral program.
Visit the Festival of Choral Music page for more information on this festival.

As part of the application process, schools must film an audition video of their current (2025) choir singing a song of their choice. Choir teachers should choose a song that encourages students to sing in their head voice with a warm, blended, and in-tune choral sound. For 2026 there will be one application form for both the Festival of Choral Music and the Primary Proms. Schools wishing to apply for either or both festivals will only need to fill out one form, and submit one audition video. Schools with multiple choirs should film their most advanced choir for the audition.

Audition videos will be scored by a panel using the Primary choral festivals audition scoring rubric. Each applying NSW public primary school is guaranteed entry into at least one of these festivals, provided they make themselves available for at least one Primary Proms concert date. Some schools may be offered the opportunity to participate in both programs, if there are places available. Schools will be notified of the outcome of their application on Tuesday 27 January 2026.

• Brindabella concert: Monday 14 September 2026
• Coorong concert: Tuesday 15 September 2026
• Daintree concert: Wednesday 16 September 2026
• Kakadu Concert: Thursday 17 September 2026

All participating schools attend a preliminary rehearsal to prepare students for the concerts.

Sydney preliminary rehearsals will be held at Croydon Public School, 39 Young St, Croydon:

• Brindabella rehearsal: Monday 17 August 2026, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
• Coorong rehearsal: Tuesday 18 August 2026, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
• Daintree rehearsal: Wednesday 19 August 2026, 10 am to 1:30 pm 
• Kakadu rehearsal: Thursday 20 August 2026, 10 am to 1:30 pm

Non-metropolitan schools will either host or attend a Regional preliminary rehearsal ('Cluster' rehearsal) with other nearby participating schools during Term 2 or 3, as negotiated with Luke Wallace.

• Participation fee of $42.00 per student will be payable upon acceptance into the program.  
• A rural and remote subsidy of 25% will be offered to all students attending from rural and remote schools as identified by the department.

• At least one teacher from each participating school should attend the Primary Proms – teacher professional learning workshop at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music on Thursday 12 February, 9 am to 2 pm.
• All teachers from all public schools, regardless of their involvement in the festival, are welcome to attend this workshop. Please register by Friday 6 February 2026 using the Music teachers workshops 2026 – application form.
• A range of online resources will become available at the beginning of the year.
• Each participating student will receive a 2026 Primary Proms repertoire book.
• Each participating student and teacher will receive a specially designed T-shirt to wear at the performance.

Teachers interested in working on the Primary Proms artistic or production teams should complete the State Music Festivals 2026 staff nomination form.

Applications are now open and will close on Friday 5 December (artistic team) or Monday 16 February (production team).

In 2026 performance opportunities are available for outstanding instrumental and vocal items at the Primary Proms. These opportunities are open to all public school students and can include music ensembles of all sizes, large or small – including soloists and choirs. For more information, visit the Featured items for state music festivals page.