Meet the featured performers of Creative Generation 2024
An incredible 2000 students are set to perform at Creative Generation 2024. Take a look at some of the featured vocal, instrumental and dance performers bound to shine on stage. SEE THE LIST
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Showtime is just around the corner for more than 2000 talented performers featured in Creative Generation 2024 (CGEN), with the show officially kicking off tonight.
This year’s concert, with the theme “Absolutely Everybody”, will feature an impressive cast made up of Queensland’s next generation entertainers.
The Courier-Mail got the opportunity to chat with some of the incredible students involved in this year’s performance.
Meet ten future stars coming out of this year’s Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage.
Elsie Pecin, Year 10, Yeronga State High School
16-year-old Elsie Pecin has loved singing her entire life, practising around the house since she was five years old.
Actively participating in her primary school choir and taking part in private lessons, Elsie quickly became an incredibly talented performer.
“I did CGEN in years four and five but when I went to Yeronga, the school didn’t really have anything to do with it,” Elsie said.
“I asked around and got a couple of other students and my school to get more people to do it.”
Yeronga State High School now has student dancers, singers, and choir vocalists entering into CGEN every year thanks to Elsie’s efforts. Talk about being a go-getter!
“It’s really exciting and nerve-racking. I can’t wait to perform it and a lot of my friends are coming and my family as well. So that’s totally cool,” Elsie said.
■ See the mega gallery from 2023 here
Ben Montague, Year 10, Mountain Creek State High School
What started as a ploy to beat his brother at his own game quickly became Ben Montague’s passion.
“So I started when I was in year four, my brother used to play (the French horn) and he still plays now,” he explained.
“But he really got me into it, and I had always wanted to try and get better at him.”
Now, in his second year of CGEN, Ben is a master at the French horn, complimenting the brass section of the orchestra.
“It is really good to see the vocalists fill in the gaps for the orchestra. We usually would have to skip a bunch of parts but having all the singers there, it really makes it come together,” Ben said.
“I am really excited to see the final medley come together for the concert because it is already starting to sound amazing.”
Kinzie Campbell, Year 12, Kingaroy State High School
Kinzie Campbell started her dance journey when she was just three years old, and has loved it ever since.
Now joining her friends and younger sister, Aubrey, on stage for her final year of Creative Generation, Kinzie said she was excited to show off all she has learnt in the past six months.
“Finally arriving in Brisbane for rehearsals and seeing all the little bits and pieces being put together is amazing,” she said.
“It is really cool to see all the performances, like the choir and singing, and everything that is going on.”
Part of the CGEN Dance Company, Kinzie will get to perform multiple jaw-dropping routines in a bittersweet finish to her CGEN journey.
Sophia Fechner, Year 7, Kingaroy State High School
Performing at Creative Generative for the first time, Sophia Fechner was eager to get stuck into performance night with the junior regional dance group.
The 12-year-old said she always enjoyed coming to Brisbane and spending time with all her friends from school.
This year will be a family outing for Sophia, with her younger sister Charlotte also joining her for the huge performance weekend.
“I have been dancing since I was three years old and started dancing at La Creme Dance Academy,” Sophia said.
“Seeing everyone come together and dance together is my favourite bit, I am really excited to perform the finale for the first time on Thursday.”
Sarah Wu, Year 12, The Gap State High School
Sarah Wu said she started playing the violin like any other student, picking up the instrument in her early years of primary school. Now the concert master and first violin of the CGEN orchestra, it is clear she is not your ordinary violinist.
“I started playing in year two but then I had a break for a few years, there was a period of time where I really hated (playing the violin),” she explained.
“But last year, I don’t know, I just had like a cataclysmic moment where I was like, ‘hey maybe this is something I can do forever’ and then I did and now I am really getting into it.”
We’d say Sarah is well beyond “getting back into” violin, the 17-year-old now carries the strings section of the Creative Generation’s orchestra with her sheer talent and expertise.
In her fourth year of CGEN, Sarah said the first Sitzprobe ahead of show week is one of her favourite parts.
”As an orchestra, it sounds good, but it just feels a bit like something’s missing,” she said.
“As soon as you put it with the singers, it sounds incredible. And you can see like the whole vision for the stage and everything already.
“The vocals are so incredible, they do all these incredible runs. I am not even focusing on my playing.”
The expert violinist plans to apply for the Griffith Conservatorium to continue to grow her love for the violin.
Christina Brown, Year 11, Mable Park State High School
It is no secret Creative Generation’s students are oozing with talent, and Christina Brown is no different.
The Courier-Mail had the opportunity to hear this star performer rehearse at Mansfield State High School, and it’s no wonder she is a feature vocalist – Christina is bound for stardom.
“I just started singing because (my family) went to church a lot. Every time I would go into church, I just see all the amazing singers there.
“So then my sister would just teach me. Then it got to the point where my sister was like, ‘okay let’s start getting into shows’.
“Then she heard about CGEN and she really pushed me to do it. And now three years later I am here.”
Christina said she loved seeing how the six months of rehearsals were finally put together.
“It is seriously just like an amazing masterpiece that was put together in like, less than nine months by amazing people,” she said.
Olivia Slatter, Year 10, Kingaroy State High School
Dancing at the prestigious La Creme Academy in both Kingaroy and Nanango, Olivia Slatter is a rising star in her profession.
The 15-year-old was invited to be a part of both the Massed A and hip hop dance groups for Creative Generation this year, something she was very proud of.
Olivia gave The Courier-Mail insight into the levels of dance at Creative Generation.
“There’s a lot of different levels. So you would have regional groups, who don’t arrive in Brisbane until the last week,” she said.
”Then Massed B would be like for people progressing in their dancing skills. With Massed A, that is a little bit higher in skill, so there’s not as many dancers in that group.
“Then there’s the featured dancers and middle ensemble, which would be like helping the little kids as well as doing the senior dances. Then the company dance group, which is the highest level.”
Ewen Smibert, Year 12, Mansfield State High School
In his fourth year of starring as a feature vocalist, Ewen Smibert is no stranger to a solo performance – something the audience will get to see at Creative Generation this weekend.
“I didn’t really think of myself as a singer. I was in church choirs just as a kid and I enjoyed that,” he said.
“Then, in school, I got a solo in the school choir and performed on stage for the first time which was pretty cool.”
Ewen said he found CGEN by accident and has loved it ever since.
“Since I started, I’ve been performing a lot more, which has grown my confidence. I realised that it’s something I enjoy,” he said.
He said the Sitzprobe at Mansfield State High School was amazing to see the performance come together piece by piece.
“It is really cool because you start with just the feature voices and then we start singing with the backing vocalists,” he said.
“Then you start seeing some of the dancers, the orchestra, the choir, and it all just comes together it is really insane.”
Ella Fleischfresser, Year 8, Kingaroy State High School
Another regional superstar, Ella Fleischfresser will get to show off her jazz, hip hop and contemporary skills on the CGEN stage.
Like many others, Ella has spent countless weekends working hard to bring each routine up to scratch, but she knows it will all be worth it in the end.
Her younger sister Lucca will also be taking part in the junior regional dance troupe.
“Being able to have fun with your friends, and have a bunch of different opportunities and everything is always the best part of CGEN,” she said.
“Just being involved with it is always so fun.”
Aubrey Campbell, Year 4, Taabinga State School
Her first visit to Brisbane has no doubt been an unforgettable one, Aubrey Campbell will make her Creative Generation debut on Thursday as part of the junior regional dance group.
Aubrey said she could not wait to spend time with her four school friends who joined her at CGEN.
“It is really fun with all my friends doing it as well, I am so excited to go on stage,” she said.
“My favourite part of CGEN is making new friends and planning the choreography with the dance team.
“I love it here.”
The CGEN debutant said she is looking forward to performing “I’m a believer” on the weekend.
Join the conversation
High achievers: Meet the Gympie grads who aced ATAR exams
St Patrick’s College in Gympie has achieved remarkable results in this year’s ATAR exams with two students standing out as being “top of the class” for 2024. Here’s what they scored and their plans for the future.
Read more
Dirty little secret behind report that sparked school phone ban
At the end of the first year of Queensland’s ban on mobile phones in schools, there’s been an extraordinary revelation on how it came about.
Read more