COFFS Harbour Senior College Year 12 student Grace Sutherland, was among 6000 students participating in the world’s largest amateur variety show, the Schools Spectacular at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on 29-30 November.
Grace is studying her Certificate III in Live Production and Services and worked as a production assistant at the event’s outdoor festival, SpecFest.
Showtime saw hundreds of students front of house, putting on amazing dance numbers, singing performances and acrobatic feats, while backstage over 150 vocational education and training (VET) students managed camera operations, audio engineering, lighting, production, styling and costumes, event and stage management and operated the Tiny Café.
Grace’s role at SpecFest was as a sound operator with surround sound, setting up the EQ (equalisation) and mic-ing up the performers.
Speaking from the event, Grace said, “Honestly, it’s so amazing having this big group around me.
“It’s like I’ve become part of this community.”
Her dream is to do stage management at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) or be on the stage.
For now, SpecFest is an experience that keeps on giving.
“I have learnt things that I don’t think I would have ever learnt before.
“Just being able to go up to mix and immediately be able to do anything, and to learn how you can manipulate someone’s voice with just a flick of a switch.”
Grace applied for the experience through an online application with a video submission sharing why she wanted to be involved in Schools Spectacular and what her interest areas are in production.
Her teacher supported the application with a reference.
Applications are open from the middle of each year for VET Entertainment Roles.
SpecFest Student Production Manager Fatima De Assis, who worked with Grace, told News Of The Area, “Students undertaking the Certificate III in Live Production and technical services have a focus on operations.
“Schools can support students’ learning through internal events, functions, musicals, and showcases to supplement their work placement requirements.
“At SpecFest, there is the opportunity for students to work alongside our industry partner, Eclipse, to operate and maintain the party/festival atmosphere prior to the actual Arena performance.
“Grace Sutherland was assigned to operate the West End rehearsal space, managing the performers’ in-ear monitor system and audio console.”
The role required a person who has strong communication skills, and an understanding from the performer’s perspective, and who is able to operate and monitor audio systems throughout the process.
“Schools Spectacular has and will continue to encourage students from regional areas to take part in large-scale opportunities such as this one.
“What we are certain about is the students that represent regional and rural areas are mature young individuals who savour every moment and bring back to their school and peers a wealth of memories and technical experiences that they will adapt and pass on to their school.”
By Andrea FERRARI
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