28 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2019 CAST OF THOUSANDS IN FESTIVAL OF THE SACRED Over 2500 Sandhurst students amazed audiences with their performances in the 2019 Festival of the Sacred, held in Bendigo, Echuca, Shepparton, Wangaratta, and Wodonga. School groups travelled from many towns to regional centres to share in ensemble singing, dancing, and drama! The Festival is for Grade 5 and 6 students, taking place every two years. This is a highlight of Catholic Education Sandhurst’s arts strategy, which includes an important partnership with the Australian School of Performing Arts who deliver high quality performing arts experiences for young people throughout the country. Months of rehearsals preceded the concerts, and practice paid off as performers wowed friends, family, and fellow students. Event organiser, Education Officer for The Arts, Claire Spinelli, from the Catholic Education Office said the Festival of the Sacred has something for everyone. “The repertoire for this year’s concerts include two high energy dance numbers and a variety of choral offerings, weaved together through short dramatic skits performed by the year five and six students,” said Claire. “The concert has an indigenous touch with Birrama Mana, sung by the mass choir, reminding the audience of the beauty of everyday Australia and the joy of coming home. There are a few blasts from the past with old school pop and Motown musical numbers interspersed among contemporary easy listening and theatrical fare,’ she said. FORMATION & EDUCATION Students from St Mary’s Primary School, Echuca performed at the Festival of the Sacred.
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