Featured artist – instrumentalist

The featured instrumentalist audition occurs in three parts:

• video audition round
• first live audition round
• final live audition round

Students must be in Years 5 to 12 to apply for the featured instrumentalist category.

1. Record video audition

Students are asked to present two contrasting pieces that will allow the audition panel to assess the details of the work, especially the audio. Each item should be no more than three minutes in length. It is appropriate to play an excerpt from the selected piece to best showcase the student's talent.

2. Upload videos and submit an application form

Students who were a featured instrumentalist in the 2025 Schools Spectacular need to submit an application form however, will not be required to upload a video audition.

3. Email confirmation 

Students will receive a confirmation email once the application has been submitted. The student's school principal will receive an email asking them to endorse the application. Please note, endorsement from the student's principal and family/carer is required to be considered for the featured instrumentalist role in Schools Spectacular.

4. Notification of results

All applicants will be notified of their video audition results by Term 1, Week 7.

1. First live audition

Thu 2 April 2026 – The Arts Unit, Lewisham

Successful applicants will be invited to attend the next part of the audition process, the first live audition round in Sydney. For the live audition, students will perform in front of a panel. They will prepare and present two contrasting pieces. 

We strongly encourage students to present different items to the two that were submitted for the video round, but this is not essential. Applicants should perform repertoire that best demonstrates their technical and performance skills. Repertoire should be no more than two minutes in length.

2. Notification of results

All applicants will be notified of their live audition results by early Term 2.

1. Final live audition

Tue 2 June 2026 – The Arts Unit, Lewisham

If successful in the first live audition, students will progress to the final live audition round. In this round, students may be asked to prepare and present excerpts of songs being considered for the 2026 Schools Spectacular to assess their suitability for the show's content. Students will be required to prepare and present these excerpts to the panel.

During this audition round, students may be placed in small ensembles to workshop items with other auditioning musicians.

2. Notification of results

All applicants will be notified of their final live audition results by Term 2, Week 9.

Listed below is the full featured artist rehearsal schedule. Featured instrumentalists will only be required to attend rehearsal days when their item is scheduled to rehearse. This information will be communicated to successful applicants at a later date.

The costume and prop fee will be $150 per student.

Costume and prop costs will be direct debited from the student's school. Students will need to pay the costume and prop fee directly to their school once they are notified of their acceptance into the production.

Some assistance may be available for students with financial hardship in extenuating circumstances. Following discussions with the school, if students require further support, please email enquiries to [email protected].

• Make sure the balance between the soloist and the accompaniment (such as the backing track, piano and band) is correct. It is critical that the person auditioning can be clearly heard.
• The panel recommends not using a concert video as your audition video.
• Students should discuss and review their audition video with their school music teacher prior to submitting it.
• Record the video audition in a room with a neutral acoustic. The school hall or auditorium will often have too much echo to record a video. The school’s music classroom will normally have the best acoustic for recording your audition.
• Performance presentation and ability to captivate and entertain an audience will be taken into account when evaluating auditionees.

For more audition tips, visit Top tips for auditioning.