By Alesha Capone
More than 2000 students were due to perform in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular at John Cain Arena in September, but the pandemic put a halt to these plans.
Instead, students have been rehearsing via the online video platform Zoom since April.
More than 500 Zoom sessions have been held to record all the principal singers and dancers, with the footage to be edited into a TV special which will be broadcast by the Seven Network later this year.
Wyndham students to feature in the show include year 10 student Lara Crotty from Suzanne Cory High School and year 8 student Grace Ulsa from Tarneit College, who were both in the Victorian State Schools Choir.
Neema Kashindi, who is in year 10 at Tarneit Senior College, was selected to be a principal vocalist in this year’s Spectacular after several rounds of auditions.
Neema, 15, said she has previously sung in the Spectacular’s mass choir four times.
Neema said she enjoyed the diversity among the event’s performers, who are all from different schools and backgrounds.
“We’re all there for the same reason, we all love performing and entertaining people,” she said.
Neema she said had always loved music and would potentially like to pursue singing as a career, but that she also enjoyed legal studies at school.
Neema said she would like to encourage other students to try out for next year’s State Schools Spectacular, with virtual auditions now open.
“It would be awesome to see a lot of new people come and join the family,” she said.
Details: facebook.com/performingartsunit
