More than 1,100 North Coast public school students to take the stage at Compass Music Festival in Woolgoolga

More than 1,100 North Coast public school students will come together today and tomorrow, 25 and 26 May for the Compass Music Festival – North Coast, a major NSW public schools music event celebrating young performers in Years 3 to 12 from across the region.

Presented by the NSW Department of Education’s The Arts Unit, the Compass Music Festival will take place over two nights at the Wiigulga Sports Complex in Woolgoolga. Students will rehearse and workshop pieces through the day before performing in evening concerts for family, friends and the wider community.

The show will feature seven lead student performers as well as a combined secondary choir, primary choir and recorder ensemble that will join forces with the North Coast Festival Orchestra which features performers from the Bellingen Youth Orchestra.

This will be the first time the North Coast Festival Orchestra performs together on stage before accompanying the combined choir at the Festival of Choral Music at the Sydney Opera House in August 2026.

Department of Education Arts Unit Student Access and Engagement Advisor Simon Kermode said the festival is a powerful example of the power of public education, creating opportunities for students in regional communities and inspiring excellence in students across the state.

“Five years ago in 2022, we started with 300 student participants, and now we’re at more than 1,100 student performers, with this year’s festival due to be the biggest one yet,” Mr Kermode said.

“Compass Music Festival provides regional and rural NSW public school students with the opportunity to perform in a large-scale local festival, reducing the need for families and schools to travel long distances for major performance opportunities.

“Last year’s show was a sellout and we’re not far off this year either, which demonstrates its importance to the local community”

The festival not only provides opportunity but also brings young people together through music and helps them to builds confidence and make life-lasting memories.

Nambucca Heads High’s Violette Hyland will perform on the Compass stage on Monday night as a featured performer for a second time with the Sara Beth song Last October. The talented musician is remembered for performing an original song at Compass Music Festival 2024, before singing Zero Gravity by Kate Miller Heidke at the Festival of Instrumental Music Sydney Opera House event in 2024.

Year 6 Goonengerry Public School students Feather Morris, Koda Druitt and Rose Johnson will also perform on Monday night, an original piece ‘Last Forever’ written by Feather reflecting that some of her friends would soon be heading off to different high schools, as their final year at Goonengerry comes to an end.

Goonengerry Public School staff member Eilidh Davies said ‘Last Forever’ reflects friendship, shared memories, and the mix of excitement and sadness that comes with this change.

“Performing this song together is their way of celebrating their individual and collective talents and is a heartfelt farewell to their primary school journey and a reflection of the strong bond they will always share,” Ms Davies said.

Young singer-songwriter and Bellingen High School student, 2024 Schools Spectacular and 2025 Pulse Alive performer Teale Kelly-Wright will feature on  the Tuesday night with a cover of the popular Frank Sinatra song Moon River.

First time performers Coffs Harbour Senior College solo vocalists Somerley Bramall and Eden Davis and cellist Julius Taylor will make up some of the featured performers across Monday and Tuesday night’s shows, as will Maclean High clarinettist Alex Todhunter.

Tickets for the Compass Music Festival are limited but still available via:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/compass-music-festival-coffs-harbour-tickets-629597883217   

The 2026 Compass Music Festival North Coast is proudly supported by SIXT.

MEDIA CALL:
Media are invited to attend during the day to capture rehearsals and speak with organisers, teachers and participating students.

Compass Music Festival – North Coast rehearsals
When: Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 May 2026
Best time for media: 10:00am to 2:30pm
Where: Wiigulga Sports Complex, Solitary Islands Way, Woolgoolga NSW 2456
Vision/photo opportunities: Massed choir and recorder rehearsals, large student ensembles, North Coast Festival Orchestra, students preparing for evening concerts
Interview opportunities: Event organisers, teachers, participating students, conductors, school representatives

Compass Music Festival Event

Compass Music Festival – North Coast
Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 May 2026
Wiigulga Sports Complex, Woolgoolga
Evening performances commence at 6:30pm and run for approximately one hour

PHOTOS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOADING TUESDAY:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jzUZOMDHQE6BHzz183xgo8vMWM0Vi7md?usp=sharing

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS & FEATURED STUDENTS:

1. Ballina Coast High School
2. Bangalow Public School
3. Banora Point Public School
4. Barrington Public School
5. Beechwood Public School
6. Bellingen Public School
7. Bellingen High School
8. Bilambil Public School
9. Bonville Public School
10. Burringbar Public School
11. Byron Bay Public School
12. Chillingham Public School
13. Coffs Harbour Senior College
14. Coramba Public School
15. Corindi Public School
16. Crabbes Creek Public School
17. Crossmaglen Public School
18. Dungay Public School
19. Eureka Public School
20. Frank Partridge VC Public School
21. Frederickton Public School
22. Glenreagh Public School
23. Goonengerry Public School
24. Gulmarrad Public School
25. Kempsey South Public School
26. Lake Cathie Public School
27. Lennox Head Public School
28. Lismore Public School
29. Lismore South Public School
30. Macksville Public School
31. Maclean High School
32. Maclean Public School
33. Murwillumbah East Public School
34. Murwillumbah Public School
35. Narranga Public School
36. Nambucca Heads High School
37. North East Public School of Distance Education
38. Ocean Shores Public School
39. Old Bar Public School
40. Orama Public School
41. Orara High School
42. South West Rocks Public School
43. Southern Cross Public School
44. Stokers Siding Public School
45. Teven-Tintenbar Public School
46. The Pocket Public School
47. The Rivers Secondary College, Lismore High Campus
48. Toormina Public School
49. Tweed Heads Public School
50. Tweed River High School
51. Tyalla Public School
52. Uki Public School
53. Westlawn Public School
54. William Bayldon Public School
55. Woolgoolga Public School
56. Wyrallah Road Public School
57. Yamba Public School

Media contact:
Alyssa Terese
Dept of Education Media Unit
0418 874 473