Yesterday was an awesome day weather wise and last night was an awesome night. The temperature yesterday got to 26C and even at 1.30am this morning the temperature was still 24C.
Last night was the Festival of Music at the Festival Theatre. Katie and some of her fellow school students (including her best friend Maddi) were invited to participate in the combined Primary Schools choir. There were some 455 students in the choir representing 17 Primary Schools. And what a beautiful sound they made!
Now I understand why, over the last few months when she came to stay she would ask , "Nanna, have you heard the song Footloose, or Iko Iko, or Twist and Shout or He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"? She was quite surprised when I would reply, "Yes Katie we have got those songs on CD or record". Then she would ask me to put them onto my IPhone or IPod so that she could listen to them and sing along in the car. These were just some of the songs sung by the choir.
This Festival is run over twelve nights with students from over 230 schools represented. More than 6000 students are involved over the 12 nights.
We didn't know what to expect. I thought that each school's choir sang a song or two but it was nothing like that. The massed choir was backup to several of the performers. This State has certainly got some very talented young people. The Orchestra was made up entirely of Primary School children and sounded amazing. If you were non the wiser you would have thought it was a Symphony Orchestra.
I wasn't aware that the Education Department played a big part in teaching Music and Drama in schools. Listening to some of the solo singers gave me goosebumps. They were truly awesome, especially a young classical singer who sang Figaro.
Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take any photos inside the theatre but we will definitely be ordering a DVD of the performance. To everyone involved, from all of the teachers, the conductors, the choreographers, the organisers and all the students......TAKE A BOW!!!!!!!!!!
Festival Theatre
After the concert we waited for Katie and she was very excited about having performed. She said that before it started she was very nervous and when the curtain rose and she saw the audience she wanted to collapse on her knees.
I spoke to her earlier and she is still coming down from the high of last night. Now, she says, she is ready to go to Perth on Sunday. I got the days mixed up......she leaves on Sunday and comes back Monday evening.
She is really becoming the Social Butterfly!
Katie and her BF Maddi
Wow, it sounds like an awesome event! I don't think I've ever listened to a school child sing classical music. I'm not counting TV talent shows. I think it's wonderful that your shools teach the children music and the arts. You have a wonderful night, hugs, Edna B.
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