Sutherland Shire Schools Music Festival

History

Founded in 1970 as part of the 200th anniversary of Captain Cook’s landing at Kurnell, the festival began with a single concert at Port Hacking High School.

It later moved to the Sutherland Civic Centre (now The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre), where it expanded to include multiple concerts and the Dance Extravaganzas.

Following a three-year pause due to COVID-19 and venue redevelopment, the festival returned in 2023 to celebrate 50 years of music, dance and creative arts.

Concert information

Public primary schools across the Sutherland Shire participate in combined choir performances at The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre, Sutherland.

The festival celebrates student achievement in music and aims to showcase talent while promoting public education across the region.

The festival program features:

• Junior concerts

• Senior concerts

• Dance Extravaganza concerts

• Visual arts

Funding and organisation

The festival is self-funded through ticket sales, supporting venue hire, production, music resources, and event delivery.

The festival committee is elected annually at the November AGM. All teachers are welcome to attend term meetings.

The revenues generated pay for the following:

• Hiring the The Pavilion and audio-lighting engineers for the day rehearsals and evening concerts
• Hiring and erecting the stage scaffolding
• Audio-engineer
• The purchase of all printed music scores
• AMCOS licence fees, for the making of teaching resources
• Design and maintenance of the festival website
• Relief costs for key personnel – committee and production crew – in order to provide essential support to the festival organisation, and to cover release from teaching (thus supporting the schools of key personnel)
• Typing and graphic arts for the concert programs
• Professional expenses – accompanists for rehearsals and concerts, workshop leaders, professional development, choral reading days and workshops
• Purchasing student mementos - certificates, T-shirt design
• Other miscellaneous expenses – promotional banners, advertisements, presentations at concerts
• Photocopying, telephone and technology costs to the schools of key committee members

Ticket purchase and information

The Sutherland Shire Schools Music Festival showcases talented students in the performing arts, supported by their passionate teachers.

45 local public primary schools. 12 combined dance and choir evening performances. 5 matinee shows. 4 dance-only concerts. With 5,000 students performing over two weeks, the stage is set at The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre this August. The smiles on the faces of the performers say it all.

Tickets are available through Ticketek via the links below.

Box office or ticketing enquiries can also be directed to The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherland Box Office;
In person: Thursday and Friday, 10:00am–4:00pm, and one hour prior to performances
Telephone: 02 9063 2006 (Thursday–Friday, 10:00am–4:00pm)
Email: boxoffice@thepavilionarts.au

Group and accessible bookings can be made by contacting the Box Office during the hours listed above.

Concert tickets

Tickets for SSSMF junior and senior choir and dance concerts will be available soon.

Purchase concert tickets (tickets will be on sale closer to the event)

Dance extravaganza tickets

Tickets for the SSSMF Dance Extravaganza concerts will be available soon.

Purchase dance extravaganza tickets (tickets will be on sale closer to the event)

Participating schools

The combined choirs represent students from over 40 public primary schools across the Sutherland Shire.

• Alfords Point Public School
• Bangor Public School
• Bonnet Bay Public School
• Bundeena Public School
• Burraneer Bay Public School
• Caringbah North Public School
• Caringbah Public School
• Como Public School
• Como West Public School
• Cronulla Public School
• Cronulla South Public School
• Engadine Public School
• Engadine West Public School
• Grays Point Public School
• Gymea Bay Public School
• Gymea North Public School
• Heathcote East Public School
• Heathcote Public School
• Illawong Public School
• Jannali Public School
• Jannali East Public School
• Kareela Public School
• Kirrawee Public School
• Kurnell Public School
• Laguna Street Public School
• Lilli Pilli Public School
• Loftus Public School
• Lucas Heights Community School
• Marton Public School
• Menai Public School
• Miranda Public School
• Miranda North Public School
• Oyster Bay Public School
• Sutherland North Public School
• Sutherland Public School
• Sylvania Heights Public School
• Sylvania Public School
• Taren Point Public School
• Tharawal Public School
• ​Waterfall Public School
• Woolooware Public School
• Woronora River Public School
• Yarrawarrah Public School
• Yowie Bay Public School