The event features over 5700 students from public schools across NSW, who display their talents for singing or dancing live on television. 

Yass Public Principal Michelle Fahey said that being selected for the Spectacular for the third year in a row was “just such an honour.” 

“It also sort of validates what you do at school,” Ms Fahey said. 

“Where you think ‘We’re on the right track, we’re doing the right things.’”

She also explained that the trip meant more to the children than just an opportunity to showcase their talent. 

“It’s really opening up the world to our students, because although it’s the Schools Spectacular, it’s actually a trip to Sydney for our students for the week. 

“It’s a great thing, it’s a lovely bonding experience for the teachers that go, as well as the kids.” 

The first step in the process of selecting which children would take part was finding the best voices at the school. 

Kids who were interested were asked to audition for the school, and eventually the list was whittled down to the 16 best singers the school could offer. 

According to Diane Hickey, who was in charge of organising and choreographing the kids’ audition tape, it took several weeks to get right. 

However, the effort appears to have been worth it, and Ms Hickey can see the impact that the selection has had on the kids. 

“They’re pretty excited,” Ms Hickey said. 

“Because this is the third time [that the school has been invited] there’s a bit of anticipation because the kids know what to expect.” 

Although she knows the kids will have fun, Ms Hickey remains aware that the most important aspect of the trip is the good it will do the children. 

“The main focus is what the kids get out of it, and the main experience of going to Sydney, singing with a choir that big is pretty special,” she said. 

The Spectacular has a history of successfully cultivating the talent of those who participate, and hundreds of those who participate have gone on to perform, direct, and design for large-scale productions. 

This, according to Creative Director Sonja Sjolander, is due to the professionalism of the production and the experience it offers to the students. 

“It is very much a developmental process. First we identify the talent, then we nurture and develop that talent through to November and try to give the students some stead them well in terms of their career pathways,” Ms Sjolander said.

“Some students are interested in a career pathway in the performing arts, and the kind of network that they set up, the people they meet, the mentoring that they get from some industry professionals really helps them a lot. 

Ms Sjolander also sidentified the more specific skills which the Spectacular seeks to instill in the participants. 

“Entertainment industry skills, the media, working with one another and collaborating, putting a whole production together, working in tight time frames, being able to perform to an arena audience in a live setting, as well as to a TV audience in a broadcast setting.”  

The kids will also have the opportunity to work on “really honing their craft so that they understand what it feels like to perform night after night at their top level,” she said.  

The Schools Spectacular will take place across Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th of November at the Sydney Super Dome.