Playing on a Bigger Stage

For BSC students with a passion for music, dance or performance, opportunities beyond the classroom can open the door to experiences they may never have imagined.  One such opportunity is the Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS), a large-scale production that brings together thousands of talented government school students from across Victoria. 

This year, Max McCamish-Symes (Year 10)  had the opportunity to perform as part of the VSSS orchestra, playing bassoon alongside some of the state’s most accomplished young musicians. Having played bassoon for around six years, Max was excited to audition after hearing from a friend about the experience.

“I thought it would be the biggest thing I’d taken part in so far… I also knew I might get on TV!”

Playing at a whole new level

The VSSS orchestra brought together around 70 student musicians, including three bassoon players. Rehearsals began in March, with full-day rehearsals most Sundays as students prepared more than 40 songs for the two-hour production. Playing in such a large ensemble was very different from performing in school ensembles.

“The students' skills were all of a very high standard. They were some of the best musicians from all the state schools across Victoria, so it was amazing to play alongside people who were so good.”

The experience also provided an opportunity to meet students from schools across the state who shared the same passion for music.

“It was great meeting lots of different people who I had something in common with. I made lots of new friends. It inspired me to work harder at my music.”

Being part of something bigger

The Spectacular is about much more than the orchestra. More than 2,000 students come together as singers, dancers, acrobats and musicians, alongside solo performers and production teams, to create a spectacular arena show.

For the orchestra, this meant learning how to work as part of an extraordinarily complex production. Performing in a large arena also presented some unique challenges, including a time delay between the orchestra and the sound system.

“To stay in time we all had to wear headphones with timed clicks [click tracks] and obviously watch the conductor!”

After months of preparation, seeing the entire cast come together for the first time was a highlight.

“The scale of the production was like no other show –there were literally thousands of kids in costumes - playing their part in the choirs or dancing or whatever.”

Opportunities to discover what you can do

Experiences such as VSSS give students the chance to extend their skills, work alongside other talented young people and challenge themselves in an environment well beyond the everyday school setting.  For Max, the experience also reinforced the value of being involved in music and taking opportunities when they arise.

And what is Max's favourite memory? Perhaps surprisingly, it wasn't performing in front of thousands of people.

“To be honest, probably hanging out with the woodwind players at the park near the complex where we rehearsed every Sunday!”

His advice for other BSC students is straightforward:

“Go for it. If you’re a talented singer, dancer or musician, you should audition. It’s just an amazing experience and you’ll never forget it.”