Albany public high school students set to take to the stage for 2022 Albany Schools Music Showcase

Music students from Albany’s public high schools are set to shine on stage on Tuesday at the 2022 Albany Schools Music Showcase.

Audiences will be treated to a mixture of musical styles from Albany Senior High School and North Albany Senior High School.

Students will take to the Albany Entertainment Centre stage for the annual event featuring a program of ensemble performances.

NASHS music teacher Meghan McNally said the event would involve students from Years 7-12.

Ms McNally said she had seen their confidence increase from their experience in last year’s performance.

“This time last year, I think the kids were feeling a little bit nervous and a bit unsure, whereas this year, they know what’s going on and I think there’s a level of pride,” Ms McNally said.

“I think they’re pretty proud of themselves.

“They know their music, and they’ve prepared really well, they’ve been really dedicated, and they’ve worked really hard.”

NASHS and ASHS students will combine in orchestra, guitar ensemble, concert band and choir performances, as well as in individual school performances.

The concert finale will feature all students from all of the concert bands and orchestras on stage — a total of about 120 — to perform a rendition of Thriller by Michael Jackson and Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger.

There will also be a small award ceremony during the presentation for Year 12 students who have continued instrumental lessons throughout their schooling, with some having started in Year 3.

Ms McNally said some of her personal highlights of the showcase were the choir’s “choral rock band” rendition of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer, and the upper school contemporary group’s performance of Rivers and Roads, by The Head and The Heart.

“It’s quite an emotional song, it’s really haunting and really beautiful,” she said. “It’s sort of about moving on and it’s quite poignant...for the time of their lives, especially the Year 12s.”

ASHS teacher Neville Talbot said the concert was a “celebration of what young people can do”.

“It really celebrates the example of kids who are actually sticking at something and working hard at it and not giving up the second it gets hard,” he said.

“They’ve worked hard, and I’m just really proud to get them on stage and say, ‘Hey, look at these kids, they’re bloody amazing’.”

The Albany Schools Music Showcase is on at the Albany Entertainment Centre from 7pm on Tuesday. For tickets, visit bit.ly/3U7xOLM.