Nicholas Kelly, newly-elected Arts Captain for Armidale High School, has found the last few weeks “pretty unreal” as he finds himself a featured artist at School Spectacular for the third consecutive year after a gruelling process of three auditions.
While other students are on holiday, Nicholas spent the week in intensive rehearsals during which he learnt the entire show. Every weekend next term will be spent in Sydney at rehearsals while he balances the demands of strict rehearsal periods, a part-time job and school work.
Nicholas is performing in six songs, three of which are with the Music Theatre Ensemble.
“This opportunity to work with performers from the Newtown Performing Arts High, who major in dance for the Higher School Certificate, is a new challenge for me,” said Nicholas.
“You are expected to become as confident in dance as your fellow performers in a fraction of the time they have had.
“A really exciting part of the experience is that it is authentic: you have a genuine insight into how challenging life as a professional artist is and you work with professionals; nothing short of polished performances are acceptable.
“While unbelievably demanding, the experience has already proved invaluable in opening up opportunities and making contacts.”
Gaining an understanding of the media and training in interview techniques have helped. He looks back with nostalgia to his very first interview with Elliott from ‘Rollercoaster’ the ABC children’s show.
“I was only 13 and so nervous. The interview was quite tightly scripted but I’d had no experience,’ he said.
Earlier this year, Nicholas recorded the song used as the theme for Education Week.
“I was flown to Sydney and worked with the Department of Education and Community’s Arts Unit who were tremendous.”
Just recently, Nicholas was invited to sing with the NSW Boys’ Ensemble but other commitments precluded him from accepting.
“School Spectacular is a huge financial commitment and I am so lucky to have unbelievably supportive parents; I really want to feel that I am contributing as much as I can,” said Nicholas.
