Over a thousand students from public schools across the NSW north coast came together last week for a very special kids festival celebrating music and song.
Organised by the NSW Education Department, the Compass Music Festival took place in Woolgoolga just north of Coffs Harbour, over two days and nights.
Students came in their busloads from public schools across the northern rivers, including from Murwillumbah, Uki, Stokers Siding, Crabbes Creek, Eureka, The Pocket, Bangalow, Byron Bay, Lennox, Lismore, Southern Cross and more.
And many of their parents and friends came too, with both public performances at the giant Wiigulga Sports Complex completely sold out.
‘The Compass Music Festival is one of several initiatives led by The Arts Unit of the NSW Department of Education aimed at providing high-quality performing arts opportunities to students living in Regional NSW’ says Luke Wallace, from the Arts Unit. ‘The overwhelming response from the North Coast community speaks to the impact that these opportunities have on students and their families.’
Students who’ve been learning the same repertoire of songs in their classrooms for much of the past year, came together as a mass choir and recorder ensemble at the festival, accompanied the extraordinary Bellingen Youth Orchestra.
Songs included ‘You’ve got a friend in me’ from ‘Toy Story’, and the home-grown hit ‘Manly Ferry’, composed by Ian Jefferson, who also conducted the massive, combined choir of kids. (pictured)
Now in its fourth year, the Compass Festival is also designed to showcase talent in regional public schools, and celebrate the role of music in connecting students, teachers, and audiences.
‘Engagement in the arts has a positive impact on academic achievement and student wellbeing’ said the festival program, ‘through experiences of connectedness, expression, collaboration and critical thinking.’
One of those selected for a solo performance at the festival was 11-year-old Byron Bay Public School student Louis Moynihan-Burne, (pictured) who wowed the packed house with the jazz standard ‘These Foolish Things’ on his alto saxophone.
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