Regional Students Turn up the Volume for Festival of Music

The Festival of Music, an annual celebration of SA primary school students and their musical talent, is back in 2017, showcasing some of the best rising stars the state has to offer.

The 122nd festival will showcase over 50 artists and 21 ensembles from September 12 to 17 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

As a joint venture between the SA Public Primary Schools’ Music Society and the Education Department, Manager of DECD Music Programs Matt Delany said the festival is not to be missed.

"We have a fantastic selection of artists and ensembles that will be performing in this year’s event and I highly recommend everyone coming along to witness first-hand the talent our schools have to offer.

"Participating in the festival helps spark young people’s imagination and often ignites a lifetime passion for performance and music, with some of the feature artists gaining qualifications and careers in their respective areas.

"One artist from the 1951 program continued their music studies within and beyond school and ended up spending 47 years as a violinist in the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra," he said.

Performing students are selected by an audition panel to join artists from over 250 public primary schools from right around the state.

Children performing solos from Flow regions include:

• Angaston Primary School - Olivia Eggleton and Abby Yeend

• Balaklava Primary School - Paige Bubner and Victoria Lane

• Central Yorke School - Bethany Hollams

This year’s festival will see 6 performances from 950 student choirs at each performance, 2 orchestras with 40 members each and 2 dance/drama troupes, with 32 students respectively.

Regional areas of the state will also have their own Festival of Music from August until November, to include a further 2,200 students.