Schools Spectacular
Enquiries
Featured artist – instrumentalist
Applications for this category are now closed.
A featured instrumentalist at the Schools Spectacular is a student from a NSW Public School, who is a high potential and gifted musician and performer, capable of leading the musical forces of the production. This category is open to students in Years 5 to 12. If successful, students may be asked to perform as a soloist or as part of a small ensemble.
Audition process
The featured instrumentalist audition occurs in two parts:
- video audition round
- live audition round.
Students must be in Years 5 to 12 to apply for the featured instrumentalist category.
Video audition round
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. Items 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 2023 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 parent/carer and school principal will also receive an email asking them to endorse the application. Please note, endorsement from the student's principal and parent/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 2, Week 2.
Live audition round
1. Live audition
Successful applicants will be invited to attend the next part of the audition process, the 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.
Students may also be asked to prepare and present an excerpt of a song being considered for the 2024 Schools Spectacular.
2. Notification of results
All applicants will be notified of their live audition results by Term 2, Week 9.
Key dates for featured instrumentalists
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.
| Date | Time | Details | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 29 Jan | Applications open | ||
| Mon 8 Apr | 5:00 pm | Applications close | |
| Mon 6 May | Video audition results sent | ||
| Thur 23 May | Assigned session time | Featured instrumentalist live audition | The Arts Unit |
| Fri 21 June | Live audition results sent | ||
| Mon 29 July | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | Program photos, initial styling and wellbeing day | |
| Mon 30 Sept – Fri 4 Oct | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | Holiday week rehearsals | |
| Sat 19 Oct | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | FA rehearsal 1 | |
| Sun 20 Oct | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | FA rehearsal 2 | |
| Thu, 24 Oct – Fri 25 Oct | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | Styling days | |
| Sat 26 Oct | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | FA rehearsal 3 | |
| Sun 27 Oct | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | FA rehearsal 4 | |
| Fri 1 Nov | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | FA rehearsal 5 | |
| Sat 2 Nov | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | FA rehearsal 6 | |
| Sun 3 Nov | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | FA rehearsal 7 | |
| Mon 4 Nov | TBC | First combined rehearsal | |
| Mon 11 Nov | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | FA rehearsal 8 | TBC |
| Tues 12 Nov | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | Featured artist direction day 1 | Fairfield RSL |
| Wed 13 Nov | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | Featured artist direction day 2 | Fairfield RSL |
| Thu 14 Nov | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm | Featured artist direction day 3 | Fairfield RSL |
| Sat 23 Nov | TBC | Stage Band sitzprobe | |
| Sun 24 Nov | TBC | Orchestra sitzprobe | |
| Tues 26 Nov | TBC | Show week sound checks | |
| Wed 27 Nov | TBC | Second combined rehearsal day 1 | |
| Thu 28 Nov | TBC | Second combined rehearsal day 2 Dress rehearsal |
|
| Fri 29 Nov | 11:00 am and 7:00 pm | Schools Spectacular performance | |
| Sat 30 Nov | 1:00 am and 7:00 pm | Schools Spectacular performance |
Cost
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 schoolsspectacular@det.nsw.edu.au.
Audition tips
- 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.
