More than 3,500 students from hundreds of schools across NSW will come together at Olympic Park on Monday, November 4 to perfect their vocal numbers, dance, drama, circus, and drumming routines at the 2024 Schools Spectacular first combined rehearsal.
Just one month away from the performances on 29 and 30 November 2024, the students will be rehearsing 19 mass dance routines that vary from ballet to tap, and hip hop to musical theatre – and includes the showstopper finale involving the entire cast.
The rehearsal will also bring 1,600 choir members, including the show’s signing choir, together for the first time – symbolising the show theme, All 4 One.
Some students will be travelling upwards of eight hours to attend the rehearsal with students from Bogangar, Finley, Gooloogong and Gulmarrad public schools attending the day’s event.
Regional students from across the state will also join in over zoom for the finale rehearsal to perfect their choreography for the show’s largest number.
Schools Spectacular Executive Producer Richard Spiewak said having the choir and dance rehearsals take place concurrently at Sydney Olympic Park allowed for a greater connection to be built between those in the show, as well as a connection to where the performance will be.
“This year’s Schools Spectacular show theme is All 4 One – all for connection, all for opportunity and all for creativity,” Mr Spiewak said.
“Having both the choir and dancers and other cast members rehearsing on the same day in the same vicinity just brings this home even more and helps build on the teamwork that is inherent in the Spectacular.”
The first combined rehearsal acts as a sneak peek into the talent of everyone involved in the show’s 41st performance, and is an opportunity for cast, teachers and choreographers to work in the arena on a floor space equivalent to what they will be performing on come show time.
Mr Spiewak said this year’s show was “full of surprises, breathtaking moments and epitomises All 4 One and the excellence of public education”.
“Many segments and items are a cross pollination of many performance ensembles all working together seamlessly and some are just so daring, you will wonder how they do it,” Mr Spiewak said.
Tickets are available through Ticketek and the audience is encouraged to book tickets early to ensure they don't miss out on this unforgettable showcase of talent and creativity.
The Schools Spectacular is proudly supported by sponsors: Telstra, NSW Teachers Federation, School Bytes, Smartsalary, Teachers Health, value-in-kind supporters Woolworths and Stormer Music, and event partners: Qudos Bank Arena, Seven Network and Ticketek.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:
Media is invited to attend the rehearsal to interview:
- Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car (11:40am to 1:00pm)
- Secretary of the NSW Department of Education Murat Dizdar PSM (11:40am to 1:00pm)
- Students, teachers and staff involved in key roles of the show.
Please find below a list of schools involved on Monday.
Date: Monday, 4 November
Best times for media -
Finale rehearsal (entire cast): QUDOS BANK ARENA -
11:40am to 1:00pm.
Choir movement rehearsal at Netball Central with signing choir: NETBALL CENTRAL -
1:45pm – 3:00pm.
Locations:
- Qudos Bank Arena, Edwin Flack Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park
- Media can park short term in the Service Yard behind Qudos Bank Arena and enter through security. Please contact us to arrange parking and access to the arena.
- For longer term parking, best parking for media is P1.
- Netball Central
- 2 Olympic Blvd, Sydney Olympic Park.
Schools and groups/ensembles attending the first combined rehearsal:
Albion Park High School
Ashbury Public School
Avalon Public School
Bald Face Public School
Balgowlah Heights Public School
Barrenjoey High School
Bathurst Public School
Baulkham Hills High School
Bellevue Hill Public School
Bellingen High School
Berala Public School
Berinba Public School
Berowra Public School
Billabong High School
Birrong Girls High School
Blacktown North Public School
Blairmount Public School
Blaxland High School
Bogangar Public School
Boronia Park Public School
Bossley Park High School
Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus
Broderick Gillawarna School
Buninyong Public School
Burraneer Bay Public School
Burwood Girls High School
Burwood Public School
Busby West Public School
Caddies Creek Public School
Calare Public School
Cambridge Gardens Public School
Cambridge Park Public School
Camden Haven High School
Cammeray Public School
Campbelltown Performing Arts High School
Campsie Public School
Canley Vale High School
Canobolas Rural Technology High School
Canterbury Girls High School
Carenne School
Caringbah High School
Carlton South Public School
Castle Hill High School
Castle Hill Public School
Castlereagh Public School
Casula Public School
Cecil Hills High School
Chatswood High School
Cherrybrook Public School
Cherrybrook Technology High School
Chipping Norton Public School
Claremont Meadows Public School
Colo High School
Como West Public School
Connells Point Public School
Conservatorium High School
Coogee Public School
Cootamundra High School
Cowra Public School
Crestwood Public School
Cromer Public School
Cronulla High School
Cronulla Public School
Croydon Park Public School
Curl Curl North Public School
Darcy Road Public School
Davidson High School
Drummoyne Public School
Dubbo College South Campus
Dulwich Hill Public School
East Hills Boys High School
Eden Marine High School
Elderslie High School
Elderslie Public School
Elizabeth Macarthur High School
Emu Heights Public School
Endeavour Sports High School
Engadine High School
Engadine West Public School
Epping North Public School
Epping West Public School
Erskine Park High School
Excelsior Public School
Fernhill School
Finley High School
Forbes High School
Forest Lodge Public School
Freemans Reach Public School
Galston High School
George Bass School
Georges River College Peakhurst Campus
Girraween High School
Glenmore Park High School
Glenwood High School
Gloucester High School
Gloucester Public School
Gooloogong Public School
Gorokan Public School
Grays Point Public School
Gulmarrad Public School
Gymea Bay Public School
Gymea Technology High School
Hambledon Public School
Harbord Public School
Hawkesbury High School
Heathcote East Public School
Heathcote High School
Heathcote Public School
Henry Fulton Public School
Holsworthy High School
Homebush West Public School
Hoxton Park High School
Hoxton Park Public School
Hunter School of Performing Arts
Inverell High School
James Busby High School
Jamison High School
Jannali East Public School
Jasper Road Public School
Jindabyne High School
Jindabyne Public School
Karabar High School
Kareela Public School
Kariong Public School
Kellyville High School
Kellyville Ridge Public School
Killarney Heights High School
Kingscliff High School
Kirrawee High School
Kirrawee Public School
Kooringal High School
Ku-ring-gai High School
Laguna Street Public School
Lawson Public School
Leeton Public School
Leichhardt Public School
Leura Public School
Lewisham Public School
Lidcombe Public School
Lithgow Public School
Liverpool West Public School
Lucas Heights Community School
Lurnea High School
Macarthur Girls High School
Macdonald Valley Public School
Maclean High School
Macquarie Fields Public School
Maitland High School
Marrickville High School
Mary Brooksbank School
Matthew Pearce Public School
Melonba High School
Menai High School
Middleton Grange Public School
Miller High School
Milperra Public School
Mitchell High School
Model Farms High School
Mosman High School
Mount Kembla Public School
Narrabeen North Public School
Narrabeen Sports High School
Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School
Neutral Bay Public School
Newbridge Heights Public School
Newtown High School of Performing Arts
Normanhurst Boys High School
Normanhurst Public School
Northbridge Public School
Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus
Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus
Northern Beaches Secondary College
Mackellar Girls Campus
Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus
Northlakes High School
Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School
NSWPS Boys Ensemble
NSWPS Junior Weekly Ensemble
NSWPS Primary Weekly Ensemble
NSWPS Primary Workshop Ensemble
NSWPS Senior Weekly Ensemble
NSWPS Workshop Based Ensemble
Nuwarra Public School
Oakhill Drive Public School
Oatley Public School
Oran Park High School
Oran Park Public School
Orange High School
Orange Public School
Padstow Heights Public School
Padstow Park Public School
Panania Public School
Passfield Park School
Pennant Hills High School
Petersham Public School
Picnic Point High School
Picnic Point Public School
Picton High School
Pittwater High School
Plumpton High School
Port Hacking High School
Pulse Alive Dance Company - primary
Pulse Alive Dance Company - secondary
Pymble Public School
Quakers Hill East Public School
Quakers Hill High School
Randwick Girls High School
Randwick Public School
Riverbank Public School
Riverina Central Choir - Junior
Riverside Girls High School
Riverstone High School
Rooty Hill Public School
Rouse Hill High School
Rozelle Public School
Ruse Public School
Russell Lea Public School
Rutherford Technology High School
Ryde Secondary College
Samuel Gilbert Public School
Samuel Terry Public School
Sarah Redfern High School
Schofields Public School
Sefton High School
Springwood High School
St Andrews Public School
St George Girls High School
St George School
St Helens Park Public School
St Ives High School
St Ives North Public School
Stanmore Public School
Strathfield Girls High School
Strathfield North Public School
Strathfield South Public School
Sturt Public School
Summer Hill Public School
Sydney North Public Schools Junior Dance Ensemble
Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus
Sylvania Heights Public School
Sylvania High School
Tharawal Public School
The Jannali High School
The Meadows Public School
The NSW Public Schools Junior Singers
The Ponds High School
Thomas Reddall High School
Toongabbie Public School
Turramurra Public School
Tweed River High School
Ulladulla High School
Ultimo Public School
Vardys Road Public School
Victoria Avenue Public School
Wagga Wagga High School
Walters Road Public School
Wamberal Public School
Wattle Grove Public School
West Pymble Public School
Westfields Sports High School
William Stimson Public School
Winmalee High School
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts
Woollahra Public School
Woolooware High School
Woolooware Public School
Yass Public School
Yowie Bay Public School
About us:
KEY FACTS:
All 4 One - 41st anniversary of the Schools Spectacular.
• Known to be the world’s largest amateur variety show
• Shines a spotlight on the creative talents of NSW public school students and teachers.
• In 2024 - 5,500 students including: 2500 voice choir, 2800 dancers, a 100-piece symphony orchestra, 36 featured artists, 9 backing vocalists and 8 featured instrumentalists.
• Over 250 students involved in signing choirs, stage band, VET entertainment crew and specialist ensembles including Aboriginal contemporary dance, Music theatre, classical ballet, tap and hip hop.
• 600 teachers, staff and SLSOs
• 400 public schools
• In addition to the arena show, the event also includes SpecFest, an outdoor entertainment and hospitality zone staged each day on the Qudos Bank Arena plaza. Entry to SpecFest is free and local residents are encouraged to attend.
• Approx. 180,000 students have participated since 1984
• The oldest 1984 performer would be turning 59
• Notable alumni: John Foreman, Human Nature, Trevor Ashley, Paulini, The McClymonts, Diana Rouvas, Julie Goodwin, Simon Tedeschi, Felicity Urquhart, Anja Nissan, Ashley Rubenach and Tsehay Hawkins.
Contact details:
For more information and to arrange interviews please contact:
· Alyssa Terese – 0418 874 473, alyssa.terese@det.nsw.edu.au
