Ensemble role ‘awesome’
Ensemble role ‘awesome’
May 28, 2008
Section: News
KATINA CURTIS
Kiama High School students rocked along to the Illawarra and South East Regional Performing Ensemble last Wednesday.
Making the performance more special were the seven Kiama students playing with the 47-strong troupe.
The stage band, vocal ensemble and dance troupe gave two performances at the school of pop and jazz, songs including Uptown Girl and It’s Raining Men.
Ensemble co-ordinator Glenn Craft, who teaches at Dapto High School, said the group had only had a three-day camp to prepare the performance before going on tour in the Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands, Kiama and Shellharbour this week.
“This group stays with us for the entire year and each term we take them out and do the same show for the whole year.
“Next year we’ll re-audition for a new group,” Mr Craft said.
The students come from schools between Bulli and Eden and west to Jindabyne and the Southern Highlands.
They are chosen from Years 7 to 11 in public high schools in that region.
Mr Craft said that because the region the performers came from was so large, they could get together only periodically, hence the short rehearsal time.
One of the Kiama students in the group was drummer Brody Toombs.
This was his first year with the ensemble and he described the experience as “awesome”.
“I’d auditioned for it before but hadn’t made it in, but I just wanted to do it for the experience,” he said.
“The first couple of tours have been local but we’re planning on going to Jindabyne next term and all over the State. It’s fantastic; it’s been really, really awesome.”
