A vibrant performing arts festival, Sandhurst Arts on Show, was held at St Mel’s Primary School, Shepparton, on Wednesday, September 18, and Thursday, September 19.
The festival, organised by Catholic Education Sandhurst, featured workshops with the Australian School of Performing Arts and involved over 350 students from various Catholic schools in the region.
This event was part of a larger roadshow that had already visited Wodonga, Wangaratta, Bendigo and Echuca before arriving in Cobram and Shepparton.
Over 1500 students from Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese participated in the festival.
Participating schools included St Luke’s, Notre Dame College, St Mel’s Shepparton, St Joseph’s Nagambie, Sacred Heart Tatura and St Patrick’s Tongala, which performed on Wednesday.
On Thursday, students from St Brendan’s Shepparton, St Augustine’s Kyabram, St Mary’s Rushworth, St Anne’s College Kialla and St John’s Euroa took to the stage.
The two-day festival began with welcome and warm-up activities, followed by workshops, and culminated in the main performances from 1pm to 2pm.
The festival offered students an opportunity to showcase the skills they had been rehearsing over the past two terms with the Australian School of Performing Arts.
“The arts is an integral aspect of Sandhurst schools. The partnership between CES Ltd schools and the Australian School of the Performing Arts is well established and provides the opportunity to expose and engage students in the choral arts,” CES education officer for the arts Claire Spinelli said.
The event, which incorporated singing, performances, dancing and choral performances, was rich in colour.
News photographer Rechelle Zammit captured the rehearsals.