How a 17-year-old Eurovision star studies for her HSC
For a 17-year-old, few things are more nerve-racking than sitting an HSC exam, but singing on a stage watched by about 163 million people around the world might just beat it.
That was the experience of Silia Kapsis back in May, when the high school student from Sydney represented Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Silia Kapsis, who competed in Eurovision in May, will sit her HSC exams this year. Credit: Monsee Wood
“I thought, ‘Let’s go out there and have fun, I have worked hard for it, and show everyone it is possible for a 17-year-old to do something like this’,” she said.
Eurovision may be over but Kapsis’ singing career isn’t: she has been performing at events around Europe for thousands of people while making time to enjoy the Greek summer.
But she has also been making time to study for the HSC via Sydney Distance Education High School.
“My mum says: ‘You can be a performer, but not a dumb performer’,” she said. “I want to finish school. My mum is a lawyer, my family is pretty big on education.”
Kapsis attended South Coogee Public and St Vincent’s College in Potts Point, before receiving a scholarship to Village Nation in Alexandria – a private college where she could focus more on performing arts.
Kapsis backstage at the first Eurovision semi-final.Credit: EBU / Alma-Bengtsson
Her success on the world stage came when she followed Greek music producer Dimitris Kontopoulos on Instagram. “The first message was: ‘Do you speak Greek?’” Kapsis recalled.
The producer then spoke to her mother, and plans were put in place for her to take part in the contest. Kapsis’ mother’s family comes from Greece and her father’s family hails from Cyprus.
The months of preparation for the Eurovision Song Contest included singing lessons, dance lessons and, similarly to Beyoncé, Kapsis’ preparation involved running on a treadmill while she sang.
“It was from January until May, from 6am to 1am … it was a pretty big schedule,” she said. “Running on the treadmill helped – changing the pace, building up stamina. It took three months for me to master that.”
In the days before the contest she met the dance troupe of young men from Denmark who would be her back-up dancers through the competition.
It all culminated in six minutes on stage singing Cyprus’ entry, a song called Liar – once in the semi-final and, after qualifying, again in the grand final, where she placed 15th.
She was a little bit nervous but, by the time the grand final came around, Kapsis said she just wanted to enjoy it.
It is a similar attitude she will take into her HSC exams. Her subjects include English standard and ancient history. Distance education is not like a normal classroom, but she has adjusted.
“Online schools have helped me become more diligent and organised. I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to,” she said.
She will be one of about 70,000 students expected to start their HSC exams on Tuesday, October 15.
NSW Education Minister Prue Car praised Kapsis for her efforts.
“The flexible pathways available to HSC students enable young talents like Silia to chase their dreams while continuing to work towards this valuable, world class credential.”
The HSC Study Guide will appear in Monday’s Herald and at smh.com.au/hscstudyguide2024
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