Armidale High School’s Principal, Anne Matley, joined the audience at the Schools Spectacular last weekend in Sydney. The theme for this year, Our Time, certainly resonated with Ms Matley at the end of a year in which the departing HSC students presented the school with a clock engraved ‘Thank you for the Time of Our Lives’.
“It was such a pleasure to celebrate the commitment and skills of such a diverse range of performers,” said Anne Matley.
“Six students from Armidale High, Phillip Quinlan, Tyran Blair, Sharnae Widders-Smith, Elijah Tighe, Johno Brown and Wade Graham took part in the Indigenous dance item. This dance group has won great acclaim in the region and Johno Brown will study at the National Aboriginal and Islander Dance School in Sydney next year.
“Nic Kelly, recently elected Arts Captain, was a featured artist, performing in six items. He revelled in the opportunity to work with students and staff from the Newtown Performing Arts High School to achieve the polished, professional performances required.
“Emily Little has been nominated for Encore, the top HSC performances, in recognition of her exceptional playing. It was a very great honour to be accepted into the Spectacular orchestra which was largely comprised of students from the Conservatorium High School.
“Georgie Cooper, Isaac Cornish, Emily-Dickson-Watts, Torsten Strokirch and Darcy Waters-Edmonds sang with the Combined Choir. Torsten was a soloist during the recent New England Sings performances. “
Rowena Teege, who teaches music at Armidale High School and accompanied the students to Sydney, applauded the importance of the experience.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for all and many of our students go on to
sing and participate in community music
throughout their school years and into their post-school lives.”
