Schools Spectacular 2022: Featured Artists announced ahead of event at Qudos Bank Arena
The 45 featured artists set to rock the live return of the 2022 Schools Spectacular have been announced. Meet the group of talented performers ranging from Wagga Wagga to Grafton.
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The highly-anticipated live return of the Schools Spectacular is here.
After a two year Covid hiatus, the event is back bigger than ever with 4700 public school students from 350 schools set to descend on Qudos Bank Arena on November 25 and 26.
The students are from 350 schools and make up the event’s 2100 voice choir, 2200 dancers and a 100-piece symphony orchestra.
The Spectacular crew has announced its 45 featured artists including Josie Woods who is the first hearing-impaired solo signing artist in the history of the event.
Josie, 18 of Penrith, will do Auslan signing at the Spectacular and said “words can’t describe” how excited she is.
“There are no words to describe how overwhelmed I am about being a featured artist, let alone the first deaf featured artist,” she said.
“I didn’t see it coming, it’s already been a wild ride and I have loved every moment. I am so thankful for this opportunity.”
Josie, who has been profoundly deaf with bilateral Cochlear Implants since the age of five, said she hoped to inspire the members of her school signing choir at Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School to “step into her role”.
“I want to inspire them to fill this amazing role after me,” she said.
Ben Gillard, 14 is a fingerstyle guitarist who lives on a sheep property near Yass.
He was thrilled to be announced as a featured artist in his first Schools Spectacular.
“I was so happy to get it. It’s going to be amazing to play in this arena,” the Yass High School student said.
Ben plays fingerstyle guitar and said the highlight of his career had been playing with his idol Tommy Emmanuel.
“My dad is also a musician so I love listening to a wide variety of music,” he said.
Emily Gardner, from Hunter School of Performing Arts, will open the Spectacular alongside Josie with the song Into the Unknown.
The Year 12 student said she received the news about her selection after a gruelling physics trial exam.
“I was so excited when I heard, I have always wanted to be on stage,” she said.
“I love seeing peoples’ reactions and everyone knows when you love what you are doing.
“The event will be the best end to the HSC you could ever have.”
Schools Spectacular Creative Director Sonja Sjolander said the show was continuing to evolve into a “wonderful artistic feat”.
“People are always amazed at how extraordinary the talent is … and how we can get 4700 students in a co-ordinated, strategic fashion,” she said.
She said the show would have musical theatre, jazz, top 40, big ballads and amazing classical music.
“It’s going to be quite phenomenal,” she said. “There’s a lot of excitement and nervous energy.”
Schools Spectacular executive producer, Richard Spiewak, said the Spectacular was an extraordinarily high-calibre event that showcases public education’s creativity and performing arts.
“This year the show is aptly named ‘Creating the Magic’ as the Schools Spectacular is the embodiment of the magic and inspiration of the arts and education,” Mr Spiewak said.
Meet the 2022 Schools Spectacular Featured Artists
SOUTHERN NSW
Lachlan Elderton, Bungendore
Lachlan Elderton, from Karabar High School, said the journey had been “crazy so far” but he was excited to have made it as a featured artist in his first Spectacular.
The Year 11 student said he started singing two years ago with his music teacher encouraging him to apply.
“It was pretty crazy when I got the email,” he said.
“It’s really cool to be up here with such talented people.”
NORTH WEST SYDNEY
Tiger Han, Beecroft
Tiger Han, 11, will amaze the audience when he takes a seat at the piano at his first Schools Spectacular.
“I feel very excited to play,” the Year 6 student from Beecroft Public School said. “I have been playing since I was five.”
Tiger said he auditioned for the opportunities the Spectacular creates and would be playing
Tchaikovsky at the event.
Frankie Johns, Carlingford
Frankie Johns will be singing at the event for the first time and couldn’t be happier that she persevered.
“I tried out over the last two years and didn’t make it,” the Year 7 student from Muirfield High School said.
“I finally got it. It’s my dream to sing on TV. My dad is a musician and he has been teaching me since I was two.”
Jacqueline Attard, Maraylya
Jacqueline Attard said being selected as a soloist in her first Spectacular was a “dream come true”.
“I was so surprised,” the Year 12 student from Wyndham College said.
“I’ve been watching Schools Spectacular and always dreamt of being on it. I am excited to be able to perform in front of such as massive audience.”
BLUE MOUNTAINS
Belle Hirst, Winmalee
Belle Hirst, from Winmalee High School, will be a backing vocalist at the event.
“I am so excited, I had auditioned a few times before but this was my year,” she said.
“Singing in harmony is my favourite thing to do.”
Belle said she started busking at the age of nine which kicked off her performance career.
The Year 12 student said juggling school work and performing was “intense” however she said she could look forward to the Spectacular after the HSC.
Jackson Fitzgerald, Springwood
Jackson Fitzgerald said being selected as a featured artist was surreal and wouldn’t feel real until he was singing on stage.
The Year 11 student from Winmalee High School said he loved “singing, drama and dancing”.
“I’ve always loved musical theatre,” he said.
“I remember for my solo talent feat in kindergarten getting up on stage and doing a dance to Thriller by Michael Jackson.”
Charli Couzin, Winmalee
Charli Cousin said she was thrilled to be in the event.
“It is an absolute dream to be with like minded people working with a positive team. I am so excited,” the Year 8 student from Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School said.
Charli, 13, said she lives for the stage with Broadway lights shining in her future.
ST GEORGE/ILLAWARRA
Will Skarpona, East Corrimal
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts school captain Will Skarpona will take to the Spectacular stage for the second time.
“It’s so exciting after having two years of nothing,” he said. “This will be the best show we’ve had.”
Will is one of the many Year 12 students juggling the HSC with Spectacular commitments.
“I am going home today to graduate and give the captain’s speech,” he said.
“I will finish my last HSC exam and go straight into production. It’s a big task but I am really enjoying this year and being able to share my experiences with other people. The talent this year is next level.”
Emerson Garcia, Shell Cove
Emerson Garcia, from Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts, is in Year 12 and has a passion for singing, dancing, acting and musical theatre.
“I am very excited, it will be my first performance in Schools Spectacular and I am looking forward to the opportunity,” he said.
He said he was inspired by Michael Buble, Harry Styles and musical theatre performers.
Allee Reynolds, Heathcote
After being in the Spectacular choir in Year 3, Allee Reynolds was keen to return as a featured artist.
“I am so excited, I have been waiting for this for years,” the 13-year-old from Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts said.
“It’s a mix of excitement and shock. When I watched the Schools Spectacular when I was younger and saw the featured artists I thought ‘I want to be a part of that’.”
August (Charlotte) Turnbull, Mount Pleasant
August Turnbull, from Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts, said she was thrilled to be a backing vocalist.
“I am really excited about it, Spec is a great experience,” the Year 11 student said.
“It’s such a large scale production.”
August also has experience in Southern Stars and said she can’t wait to work with her group of backing vocalists.
Harper Jessop, Candelo
This will be Harper Jessop’s first Schools Spectacular, which also falls on his birthday on the opening night.
“I am really excited and nervous about the Spectacular,” the Year 6 student from Candelo Public School said.
“Dad’s a singer and guitarist, my auntie’s play and my pop is a singer and guitarist as well. Music runs in the family.”
Bonnie Kirgan, Burraneer Bay
Bonnie Kirgan, of Newtown High School of Performing Arts, found out she had been selected as a featured artist while on school camp.
“I was really stoked,” she said. “This will be my first time.”
“It’s so surreal, my friend’s mum encouraged me to apply and I ended up submitting my application five minutes before it closed. I am glad I did.”
Stella Serrao-Smith, Oyster Bay
Stella Serrao-Smith, of Oyster Bay, joins the backing vocalists in the 2022 Spectacular.
“This is extremely exciting,” the St George Girls High School said.
“As a Year 12 student, 2022 is my final opportunity to be a part of Schools Spectacular, which is a show I’ve wanted to be part of for a long time.”
NORTH SHORE
Mary Peter, Hornsby Heights
Mary Peter, from St Ives High School, is in Year 11 and she couldn’t wait to start working with the other performers.
She said while it was her first Spectacular she had already met a lot of people at vocal camp.
“I am thrilled to be part of this amazing event,” she said.
Abigail Morgan, Hornsby
Abigail Morgan said she was “astounded and grateful” to be chosen as a featured artist and backing vocalist.
“This is my first time,” she said. “I have a bunch of my friends doing it as well.”
The Year 11 captain of Asquith Girls High School is even more excited to be joined by her brother Robbi as a featured artist.
“It’s crazy that we are both here,” she said.
Robbi Morgan, Hornsby
Robbi Morgan said he loved following in his sister’s footsteps and had been doing it since they were little.
“I copy everything she does,” the Year 7 student from Asquith Boys High School said. “Our parents aren’t musical and my other brother plays soccer.”
He said 2022 had already been a big year and he was “ecstatic” to be a soloist in the Spectacular.
Alysha Cooper, Normanhurst
Alysha Cooper, from Turramurra High School, said she was excited to be part of such an amazing cast.
“I am so excited to start rehearsing together,” she said.
“I love watching Schools Spectacular each year on the television and still thrive off of when was a part of it back in 2017.”
The member of the Australian Girls Choir said she had been singing “forever”.
Jessica Hill, Turramurra
Jessica Hill, the 17-year-old soloist from Turramurra High School, said she was “ecstatic” to be part of the show she has loved for years.
“It’s been a family tradition to come and watch since I was three years ago,” she said.
She performed in her first Spectacular in 2015 and was part of the last live event in 2019.
Braden Langley, Lindfield
Braden Langley is keen to find out what songs he will be performing.
“It’s really excited, I was a featured artist in 2019 as well,” the Year 12 student from Killara High School said.
“I came back as I had such a good time before. It’s a bit of a juggle for me in Year 12 but I am just so pumped and excited to be here with friends.”
Georgie Sampson, Kurraba Point
Georgie Sampson, from Neutral Bay Public School, is the youngest featured artist in this year’s event and will be singing.
“When I found out I was so exited,” she said.
“My mum told me and she was really happy. I started crying I was so happy.”
Georgie said she was even more excited as her Nanny and Grandad are flying over from England for the big event.
Imogen Mumberson, Lane Cove
Imogen Mumberson, from Riverside Girls High School, said she was nervous but excited about being a featured artist.
“I have watched the Schools Spectacular ever since I was young,” the 16-year-old said.
“I have been singing ever since I was younger and it’s great to be around friends that I met at vocal camp.”
INNER WEST
Ben Clarke, Summer Hill
Ben Clarke, of Newtown High School of Performing Arts, will perform as a backing vocalist.
“I’ve never had the chance to be in such a huge spotlight before,” he said.
“Learning and perfecting the music and how to generally present myself on stage as a backing vocalist will be an incredible opportunity to push my limits as a performing artist, and help me to grow immensely.”
He said he loved classical and jazz music.
Karl van Wel, Earlwood
Karl van Wel, of Newtown High School of Performing Arts, is an actor, singer and pianist.
“The experience of performing in the 2019 Schools Spectacular was so surreal that after 2 years of cancellations, it almost feels hard to believe it ever happened,” he said.
“The 2022 Schools Spectacular is likely to feel like I’m doing it all for the first time again. I feel ready, excited and I just can’t wait.”
Karl recently featured in a Telstra “Pre-Paid mobile data” television commercial and is currently auditioning for several other television parts.
Micah June, Annandale
Micah June can’t wait to start rehearsals.
“I am so excited about performing with other amazing singers and meeting new friends,” the Newtown High School of Performing Arts student said.
Micah, who is in Year 7, loves singing, dancing, drama, choreographing and teaching.
Georgia Laga’aia, Strathfield South
Georgia Laga’aia, of Newtown High School of Performing Arts, also has the company of her sister Isabella as a featured artist.
The pair come from an exceptionally talented and musical family with their dad Jay Laga’aia, a well known actor and singer across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Georgia, who is in Year 12, first joined the Schools Spectacular since 2018 and plays a wide variety of instruments including the ukulele and loves sport.
Isabella Laga’aia, Strathfield South
Younger sister Isabella Laga’aia, a student at Newtown High School of Performing Arts, is thrilled to be a featured artist with her big sister.
“It feels astounding to be a part of something that has been a part of my life for so long,” she said.
“I was introduced to Schools Spectacular watching my brothers Sefa and Tana, on stage and then my sister Georgia. As soon as I watched it for the first time I wanted to be on the stage.
“I got to be in the massed choir with my sister Katie for one year and now I get to be a featured artist with my big sister in her final year.”
Aidan Carey, Abbotsford
Aidan Carey, from Conservatorium High School, has been singing since Year 1 when he went to his sister’s singing lessons when she was sick.
“I found that I loved singing and joined the choir at school, where I was the only boy in the choir,” he said.
The self-confessed “epic whistler” said he can’t wait for the big audience at the Spectacular.
“I can’t believe I will have the opportunity to be part of this show,” he said. “I feel so lucky to be in a public school system who is trying to showcase all different kinds of talent and giving me this sort of experience.”
Angelina Boland
NORTHERN BEACHES
Gordon Michie, Dee Why
The Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Campus student will be a backing vocalist.
Gordon is in Year 12 and said it was sad to think it would be his last Schools Spectacular.
“I am very excited! I have just loved it every year,” he said.
“My last Spec was quite a while ago because of the unfortunate happenings of Covid but I can speak for myself and everyone else when I say we are very much looking forward to finally having a full show again after quite a while.”
Liv Wishart, Forestville
Liv Wishart, from Davidson High School, said she couldn’t wait to hit the stage in November.
“Ever since my primary school participated in Schools Spectacular as a part of the choir it became the highlight of my year throughout high school, so I feel very grateful to be in the show again as a backing vocalist for my final year of schooling,” she said.
“I am interested in music and drama, particularly music as I love singing and also play clarinet. A lot of my inspiration and likes come from musical theatre songs or shows.”
Billy Lowe, Beacon Hill
Billy Lowe, from Beacon Hill Public School, will be making his Spectacular debut as a singer.
“It’s pretty cool, it was my first time trying out,” he said.
“I wasn’t expecting it.”
He said he had been singing his whole life, with his dad also a musician and his mum the voice of encouragement.
Maddie Stead, Narrabeen
Maddie Stead hails from the northern beaches and is a student at Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus.
“For the last four years I have had the incredible opportunity to share my music with the community while getting paid by busking and performing gigs at various locations around the Northern Beaches and wider Sydney,” she said.
The Year 12 student said she was honoured to be a featured artist.
“Not only to perform in front of so many people, but also for the incredible learning experiences and friendships that this opportunity will bring,” she said.
WESTERN SYDNEY
Alexander Billett, Tallawong
Alexander Billett, from Riverstone High School, is a singer, actor and dancer. He has been performing since he was a young boy and remembers when he was in the mass choir with Schools Spectacular.
“I remember looking down at the featured artists and thinking ‘that’s my dream’. I am over the moon that it has come true,” the Year 10 student said.
“It all came together.”
Riley Lattuga, Harrington Park
Riley Lattuga, from Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, said he was excited to see the return of the Spectacular.
“It’s especially special this year given we haven’t had an arena show for the past two years,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with the other amazing artists.”
Riley said he had been singing since he was eight and had done many gigs in his community.
“I recently got my first vocal student so I look forward to teaching others how to improve their vocal technique,” he said.
Isabelle Epps, Arncliffe
Isabelle Epps is a backing vocalist and said it was “incredible to be back”.
The Canterbury Girls High School student has been involved in the School Spectacular since 2016.
“I have pretty much been performing my whole life, I started dancing and then fell in love with singing,” the Year 12 student said.
Ezra Loau, Edensor Park
Ezra Loau, from Bossley Park High School, said he was keen to meet new people and perform on the big stage.
The Year 12 student said he had a passion for producing.
“An inspiration of mine would be David Sampson a producer from the record label Red Stage. I admire the unique way he makes his beats,” he said.
CENTRAL COAST/HUNTER
Lilliana Davis, Long Jetty
Lilliana Davis, from Gosford High School, said she has achieved her goal of being a featured artist.
“I have faced new obstacles each year that have stopped me getting into the show until now,” she said. “The excitement I feel towards getting to perform and express myself in such a momentous show is great.
“My core performing interests and skill lies in singing and music, however I also act, including in screen, theatre, and professional contexts. From a very young age, I have held an immense love for performing, presenting, and story, and that has grown.”
Georgia Dulley, East Maitland
The Hunter School of Performing Arts student said she was “absolutely ecstatic”.
“Being apart of a production of such magnitude is a dream come true. I’m unbelievably excited about this experience and for everything I have and will go on to learn,” she said.
Georgia said she had an eclectic taste in music.
“The music my parents played while I was little shaped my love for music and performing,” she said.
Casey Alexander, Sapphire Beach
Casey Alexander said being a featured artist was an “amazing opportunity”.
“I can’t wait, especially since it’s my first and last chance,” the Year 12 student from Coffs Harbour Senior College said.
Casey has been gigging around Coffs Harbour at restaurants, pubs, weddings, corporate functions and markets.
He performs his own material as well as hits from the past and present, covering the likes of Ed Sheeran, Britney Spears, Linkin Park and Lionel Richie.
NORTHERN NSW
Tahlia Rediger, Grafton
Tahlia Rediger, from Grafton High School, said she would be performing with the Aboriginal dance group Bangarra.
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” she said. “I am really nervous but excited at the same time. It will be amazing to experience something like this.”
Tahlia said she enjoyed singing and spending time with my family and friends.
Molly Owen, Braefield
Molly is also enjoying her first Schools Spectacular experience as a featured artist, with her principal from Quirindi High School encouraging her to apply.
“I thought it was a challenge and good chance to step out of my comfort zone,” she said.
“I am so excited to be chosen as a featured artist.”
Molly said she fell in love with the stage in Year 7.
“It’s an experience you can’t write down, you just have to be there,” she said.
WAGGA WAGGA
Jazmin Castle, Wagga Wagga
Jazmin Castle has been a regular at Schools Spectacular and said she was “excited to get back into it”.
“It’s been so long since I’ve done it, I was a featured artist in 2018 and 2019,” the Wagga Wagga High School student said.
Jazmin appeared in the Spectacular Schools – Inspired online event during the pandemic.
“It was a very different experience, still exciting and exhilarating to perform,” she said.
“Although nothing beats a live audience.”
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