Semisi Peleketi is Sydney’s real life Troy Bolton

High-schooler Semisi Peleketi is a boy torn. The 17-year-old with a future in professional footy has a second talent he is just as passionate about.

Semisi Peleketi, who is auditioning for a Featured Artist position in this year’s NSW Schools Spectacular. Picture: Tim Hunter

High-schooler Semisi Peleketi is a boy torn. The softly spoken 17-year-old boy knows his way around a footy field better than anyone his age and comes from a family of professional players.

He is good enough at the game that he has already signed a contract for an unnamed club (let’s just say as soon as he finishes school, he will be moving to a different state).

But when he is on the field, scoring tries and tackling, his heart beats to the sound of music.

In the words of Troy Bolton, star of the Disney movie High School Musical, Semesis’s head is in the game, but his heart, well, that’s in the song.

When we speak to Peleketi, he isn’t on a footy field or running drills. He is inside a Lewisham musical classroom, microphone in hand, auditioning for a featured artist position in NSW Schools Spectacular.

Semisi Peleketi auditioning for a Featured Artist position in this year’s NSW Schools Spectacular. Picture: Tim Hunter

He chucks it from hand to hand as if it’s a ball, ready to be kicked. When he is on the field, he is humming in his head. This is a boy with two paths in front of him.

“Singing runs through my whole bloodline. My dad was in a band, my grandpa was in a band, and my mum’s family were opera singers,” he said.

Footy also runs in his bloodline. His father represented Tonga, before giving it up when Semisi was born.

Semisi has faced the same dilemma as High School Musical’s “Troy Bolton” (pictured).

The 17-year-old has signed a contract to play professional footy. Picture: Tim Hunter

“My dad had a career before I was born and I kind of felt bad because his career was cut short because he wanted to sacrifice everything for me.

“What I have wanted to do ever since I was young was to live that life my dad wanted to live, so I can make him proud.

“I just want my parents to look back on all the sacrifices they have made and know it was worth it,” he said.

His footy future is already locked in. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Singing is also a strong part of his culture and something he wants to pursue. Picture: Tim Hunter

He has had a number of self-proclaimed Troy Bolton moments (the star of High School Musical who must choose between basketball or the school musical) when he has had to skip training for singing auditions.

“Sometimes I have to make a decision. Sometimes, there will be training on the same day as an audition. I try to negotiate with my coaches. I tell them the audition will be a one-time thing but there is heaps of training.”

“It gets tough sometimes, but I try to negotiate and try to figure out what I need to do to be successful in both singing and sport,” he said.

“I am just hoping there won’t be a day when there will be a big event for sport and singing at the same time,” he said.

Regardless of the path he takes, singing will always be a part of his life.

“When it comes to Pacific Islander people, I look at music as something that brings everyone together no matter what comes between us.

“When I sing it makes me feel relaxed, it brightens my day.

“No matter how hard life gets or how sad I feel, I can sing a song that brings me good memories.

“To me, music is something that brings everyone together.”

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