Classroom to crowd: Orara students shine on Hoey Moey stage

IT WAS A dream come true for four Orara High School students who took to the stage in front of a packed house at the iconic Hoey Moey last Saturday, performing as part of a Coastal Grown showcase in conjunction with MusicNSW. 

What began as a simple idea quickly gathered momentum, with the band forming and preparing for the performance in just six weeks.

Lead singer Dylan Wigley said the opportunity came together during the final week of the school term in December.

“We saw Coastal Grown was scheduled for Saturday 7 February and thought we’d give it a crack,” he said.

“There are four of us who do music at Orara High School, plus our mate Jim who plays bass, so we called ourselves Breaking Class and started rehearsing through the school holidays.

“We did three open mic nights, which really helped.

“It’s very different rehearsing at home compared to playing in front of a live audience, and we were able to fix a number of things.”

The group then committed to daily rehearsals in the lead-up to the performance.

“Most of us hadn’t played in front of a big crowd before, so it was thrilling,” Dylan said.

“We had such a great time, the feedback was really positive and our families loved being there.

“Thanks to the Hoey Moey and MusicNSW, we even got paid, which was brilliant.

“There were bands from Newcastle, Port Macquarie and across the Coffs Coast, so it was great to share such a fantastic night with young musos from other regions.”

Hoey Moey general manager Daniel Whiffen said the event was designed to support emerging talent and help foster the next generation of musicians.

“The whole purpose of the night is to see new bands forming and to give young musicians an opportunity to perform,” he said.

“We love seeing local bands and bands from further afield having a crack.

“They are the future of the music industry, and it’s important we keep providing opportunities for them to get on stage.”