A spectacular sight: thousands of students ready for show

THIS year’s School Spectacular features tributes to The Greatest Showman and Elton John in a show-stopping production.

Yohan pictured with fellow Schools Spectacular performers Ruhi, Harry, Amelie and Emma. Picture: Anna Warr

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THOUSANDS of students from across the state will converge on Sydney Olympic Park this weekend for the 35th year of a spectacular event.

This year’s Schools Spectacular, The Greatest, features tributes to some of the greatest music and theatrical shows of all time.

The Spectacular includes a 2800-strong choir, 2300 dancers and an 80 piece orchestra performing a range of pieces starting with the opening number from Hugh Jackman film The Greatest Showman, a gladiator segment, and a tribute to Elton John.

More than 300 public schools are participating including Arthur Phillip High School, Asquith Girls High School, Baulkham Hills North Public School, Blacktown Girls High School, Cherrybrook Technology High School, Eastwood Public School, Kellyville High School, Rouse Hill High School and West Ryde Public School.

The Spectacular will have 56 featured artists, including Pennant Hills High School year 10 student Yohan Rad.

The Pennant Hills teenager has played music all his life, picking up a guitar at the tender age of three.

“I was first taught by my dad,” he said.

Rad started writing songs at seven, and progressed to playing guitar, bass and piano as well as singing.

His dad spent hours upon hours teaching him everything he knew about music and the young Rad absorbed every bit of information.

“My dad started with little minute lessons and now I practise from one hour to six hours a day, depending,” he said.

Rad’s spare time is consumed by music; he spent the past school holidays on a music tour of Gold Coast schools with the Dural-based Australian Youth Performing Arts Company.

He said the students “absolutely loved” the free performances put on by APAC.

“We did 10 shows, 10 different primary schools — it was pretty cool,” Rad said.

The talented 15-year-old said it was “an absolute privilege” to be chosen as a feature artist at this year’s Schools Spectacular.

He is no stranger to the Schools Spectacular stage, having been a feature artist in 2014.

“It was pretty cool back then but now I’ve grown up I can really comprehend how great it is,” Rad said.

Tickets are on sale now for Schools Spectacular at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park on Friday and Saturday.