20.9 C
Byron Shire
July 12, 2026

Local students shine at Schools Spectacular

Latest News

Deadly weaving at Lismore gallery

Eighteen months ago, a group of First Nations artists from the Northern Rivers came together at the Lismore Regional Gallery as part of the Gathering Space project.

Other News

Inaugural DINGO Music & Arts Festival to light up Bangalow in October

It is a fusion of local and international art, music, performance, food, and thought that will be coming to you in Bagalow as part of the inaugural DINGO Music & Arts Festival across four days from 8 to 11 October.

Lots happening around Ballina for NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week 2026 is now underway, with lots happening throughout the Northern Rivers. It's a great opportunity for everyone...

Lismore’s Norco Eat the Street returns Aug 22

Lismore’s signature food, arts and culture festival, Norco Eat the Street, is making its highly anticipated return to the CBD on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

$5.5 million for surf clubs

The NSW government says the state's surf life saving clubs can now apply for a share of $5.5 million through the Surf Club Facility Program, to upgrade, rebuild or future-proof the facilities that keep beaches safe.

First Nations voices at the opening and heart of writers festival

Byron Writers Festival opens on Bundjalung Country on August 14 with a Calling to Country led by local Arakwal Bundjalung custodian, Delta Kay, and this year will feature the inaugural Rhoda Roberts Oration, honouring the late, beloved Rhoda Roberts AO.

Ballina courthouse windows smashed, man charged

Police say a man will face court today, charged after 12 windows were allegedly smashed in Ballina last night.   Police say, 'About 10.35pm (Thursday 9 July 2026), police were called to Martin Street following reports of a man smashing windows'.

Alstonville High student Sam Green will be one of the featured artists in the 2019 Schools Spectacular held in Sydney in November. Photo supplied.

At the end of the school year, around 5,500 students from right across New South Wales will converge on Sydney’s QUDOS Bank Arena in Olympic Park for four performances of the 2019 Schools Spectacular.

This is the biggest entertainment event in the school year and students start working on their performances from now until November and it’s time to reach for the stars as the schools have been named for this year’s lineup.

North Coast and Mid North Coast schools who will be contributing stars to this year’s Schools Spectacular have been revealed.

Students joining the show will perform in Aboriginal Dance (AD), Combined Choir (CC), Combined Dance (CD), Featured Ensemble (FE), D’Arts Ensemble (D), Combined Drama (CDr), Puppets (P) or Signing Choir (SC).

Locally the school heading to Sydney are Banora Point High (CD), Coffs Harbour Senior College (CD), Grafton High (AD), Kingscliff High (CD), Kingscliff Public (CD), Modanville Public (CC) and South Grafton High (AD).

The spectacular also highlights featured artists, this year the list includes Sam Green from Alstonville High School

Musicians, including members of the 100-piece symphony orchestra, stage band and Millennium Marching Band, will be announced closer to the Schools Spectacular.

Schools Spectacular Creative Director, Sonja Sjolander said that this year’s theme, STARS is a tribute to everybody involved in the Schools Spectacular.

‘In the Schools Spectacular, everyone is a star,’ said Ms Sjolander. ‘We are recognised as the biggest performance of its kind in the world, and to attain this success everyone has to shine in their role.

Ms Sjolander says we are are all stars, whether we are the performers on stage, backstage, crew, the dedicated teachers who make everything happen for their students or the parents who devote countless hours ensuring their children have this wonderful opportunity to star in the Schools Spectacular.’

‘The galaxy of talent includes 40 Featured Performers, an incredible 100-piece symphony orchestra, stage band, 2,700-voice choir, 2,300 amazing dancers, the D’Arts Ensemble disability program, the Aboriginal Dance Company, puppets and an indispensable behind-the-scenes team.’

In the true spirit of variety, the fast-paced show will transition through a colourful choreographed kaleidoscope of music from pop and hip hop to the classics, from a crescendo of massed voices to stunning solos, and a full spectrum of dance styles.

Four performances of the Schools Spectacular will be staged at QUDOS Bank Arena on Friday, 22 (11am, 7.30pm) and Saturday, 23 (1pm, 7pm) November and will be later broadcast across Australia on Channel 7 networks.



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Plastic not so fantastic

There is nothing healthier than drinking some water – or so I’ve always told my kids. It doesn’t contain sugar or colour additives – as one person used to tell us as children, ‘it’s sky juice’! What could be better?

Ballina courthouse windows smashed, man charged

Police say a man will face court today, charged after 12 windows were allegedly smashed in Ballina last night.   Police say, 'About 10.35pm (Thursday 9 July 2026), police were called to Martin Street following reports of a man smashing windows'.

Alleged native tree removal continues in Lennox, says councillor

With a government agency now investigating the alleged clear felling of natives on a large private block in Lennox Head, Ballina Greens councillor Kiri Dicker has told The Echo that contractors were felling trees all morning, ‘trying to get the job done’.

Ocean Shores man charged with advocating terrorism online

Police say a 20-year-old Ocean Shores man is behind bars (refused bail) and will face court in Tweed Heads Local Court on 18 September, charged with advocating terrorism.