Schools Spectacular
Encyclopedia
The Schools Spectacular is an Australian variety show
featuring more than 3000 young students and is performed annually at the Sydney Entertainment Centre
. Highlights of the Schools Spectacular are broadcast each year by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
.
The actual performance
is made up of many different pieces. A typical piece would have a spotlight
ed soloist
singing on an elevated platform in the arena
, surrounded by many dancers and actor
s. On the stage
, the orchestra
would be playing the instrumental
part of the song while the choirs behind and next to the orchestra would be singing the chorus
of the song.
The first Schools Spectacular was Schools Spectacular 1983 and was intended to be a sound
test for the Sydney Entertainment Centre
. Since then, the Schools Spectacular has evolved in ways no one could have imagined back then.
Schools Spectacular 2005 was dubbed "The Face of Australia" and celebrated the Australian history
, landscape
, goal and lifestyle. A tribute to Alec Campbell
, the last surviving ANZAC
, who had died in 2002, was in the production. Previous Schools Spectacular successes like John Foreman (Who has hosted Schools Spectacular since 2001) and Human Nature
made appearances during the show.
Schools Spectacular was broadcast as a telecast with the highlights by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC), and as a first, webcast through the Internet
onto their website, with the help and sponsorhip by Cisco Systems
. See the News Bulletin on this event.
The Schools Spectacular is produced by 'The Arts Unit' of the NSW Department of Education and Training.
1993 - One Spirit
1994 - International
1995 - Hats Off To Australia
1996 - Get Set 2000
1997 - The Edge
1998 - Reaching the World
1999 - To Be Australian
2000 - The Entertainers
2001 - Celebrate!
2002 - By Invitation
2003 - 20 Years on
2004 - 21st Birthday
2005 - The Face of Australia
2006 - Shine
2007 - My Spec
2008 - The Spectacular Spirit
2009 - Reaching Out
2010 - Colour My World
2011 - Imagine
The event has grown to be one of the biggest shows on earth, also published in Guinness World Records
for over 10 years now as "the world's biggest variety show", and claimed by audiences across Australia as "the most heart-warming event of the year".
The Spectacular starts off with hundreds filling the grand stage for the opening and builds by "thousands" in over three hours of non-stop performances and talent. Finally the cast of over 3500 of the most talented student performers across NSW return to the one stage for the finale.
The show will start November 2009.
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
featuring more than 3000 young students and is performed annually at the Sydney Entertainment Centre
Sydney Entertainment Centre
The Sydney Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose venue, located in Haymarket, Sydney, Australia. It opened in May 1983, to replace Sydney Stadium, which had been demolished to make way for a new railway. The centre is currently owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which administers...
. Highlights of the Schools Spectacular are broadcast each year by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
.
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
is made up of many different pieces. A typical piece would have a spotlight
Stage lighting instrument
Stage lighting instruments are used in stage lighting to illuminate theatrical productions, concerts, and other performances taking place in live performance venues. They are also used to light television studios and sound stages.Many stagecraft terms vary between the United States and the United...
ed soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
singing on an elevated platform in the arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
, surrounded by many dancers and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s. On the stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
, the orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
would be playing the instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
part of the song while the choirs behind and next to the orchestra would be singing the chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
of the song.
The first Schools Spectacular was Schools Spectacular 1983 and was intended to be a sound
Sound
Sound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations.-Propagation of...
test for the Sydney Entertainment Centre
Sydney Entertainment Centre
The Sydney Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose venue, located in Haymarket, Sydney, Australia. It opened in May 1983, to replace Sydney Stadium, which had been demolished to make way for a new railway. The centre is currently owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which administers...
. Since then, the Schools Spectacular has evolved in ways no one could have imagined back then.
Schools Spectacular 2005 was dubbed "The Face of Australia" and celebrated the Australian history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
, goal and lifestyle. A tribute to Alec Campbell
Alec Campbell
Alexander William Campbell was the final surviving Australian participant of the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War. His death broke the last living link of Australians with the Gallipoli story....
, the last surviving ANZAC
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was a First World War army corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that was formed in Egypt in 1915 and operated during the Battle of Gallipoli. General William Birdwood commanded the corps, which comprised troops from the First Australian Imperial...
, who had died in 2002, was in the production. Previous Schools Spectacular successes like John Foreman (Who has hosted Schools Spectacular since 2001) and Human Nature
Human Nature (band)
Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was...
made appearances during the show.
Schools Spectacular was broadcast as a telecast with the highlights by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC), and as a first, webcast through the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
onto their website, with the help and sponsorhip by Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
. See the News Bulletin on this event.
The Schools Spectacular is produced by 'The Arts Unit' of the NSW Department of Education and Training.
Past Themes
Each year the School Spectacular follows a theme, usually reflective of something Australian:1993 - One Spirit
1994 - International
1995 - Hats Off To Australia
1996 - Get Set 2000
1997 - The Edge
1998 - Reaching the World
1999 - To Be Australian
2000 - The Entertainers
2001 - Celebrate!
2002 - By Invitation
2003 - 20 Years on
2004 - 21st Birthday
2005 - The Face of Australia
The Face of Australia
Schools Spectacular 2005 was a performance on the 25th and 26th of November 2005 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.Dubbed "The Face of Australia", Schools Spectacular 2005 celebrated the Australian history, landscape, goal and lifestyle. A tribute to Alec Campbell, the last surviving ANZAC, who...
2006 - Shine
2007 - My Spec
2008 - The Spectacular Spirit
2009 - Reaching Out
2010 - Colour My World
2011 - Imagine
Schools Spectacular 2008
2008 marked the 25th anniversary for Schools Spectacular. It intended to bring back some of the most talented performers in the show's history (many who are now world famous), from when it began in 1984 until today. It planned to highlight how the show had grown over the twenty-five years.The event has grown to be one of the biggest shows on earth, also published in Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for over 10 years now as "the world's biggest variety show", and claimed by audiences across Australia as "the most heart-warming event of the year".
The Spectacular starts off with hundreds filling the grand stage for the opening and builds by "thousands" in over three hours of non-stop performances and talent. Finally the cast of over 3500 of the most talented student performers across NSW return to the one stage for the finale.
The show will start November 2009.
Schools Spectacular 2007
Schools Spectacular 2007, dubbed "My Spec", had a schools preview performance on Friday 23 November 2007, followed by an evening performance on the same day. There was another performance at 2pm and 8pm on Saturday 24 November.Notable alumni
- Human NatureHuman Nature (band)Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was...
(band, Australian recording artists) - Nathan Foley (children's TV group Hi-5)
- John Foreman (musician, Australian IdolAustralian IdolAustralian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
musical director, Schools Spectacular host) - Shannon Brown (The Ten TenorsThe Ten TenorsThe TEN Tenors are an Australian musical ensemble who have toured world-wide. In a typical set, the group performs Queen standards, including "Bohemian Rhapsody", and "The Show Must Go On"; tracks from Meat Loaf medley; AC/DC and much more...
) - Paulini (Australian IdolAustralian IdolAustralian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
finalist, Australian recording artist, Young DivasYoung DivasYoung Divas was an Australian girl group that had consisted of previous Australian Idol contestants. The original line up consisted of season one finalist Paulini Curuenavuli, season two finalist Ricki-Lee Coulter, season three winner Kate DeAraugo and runner-up Emily Williams...
) - Sabrina Batshon (Australian IdolAustralian IdolAustralian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
finalist) - Roshani Pridis (Australian IdolAustralian IdolAustralian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
Finalist)