Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
11 Feb 2013
Talented singers, dancers and actors from Sydney's Catholic Schools head for Los Angeles next week to showcase their talents during America's four day international Religious Education Congress to be held in Anaheim, right next door to Disneyland.
The 36 youngsters who range in age from 11 to 17 auditioned to be part of the tour of Los Angeles which will perform at several Los Angeles schools culminating in a special performance with John Burland, the Australian-based internationally acclaimed educator and composer of religious music for children and adults. The RE Congress which will be attended by more than 50,000 young people from across the US.
John Burland who is also Project Officer for Liturgy and Music at the Archdiocese of Sydney's Catholic Education Office (CEO) will lead the team from Sydney's Catholic Schools Performing Arts (CaSPA).
The LA tour marks the third time young singers, dancers and actors from Sydney's Catholic schools have headed overseas. This 10 day trip will not only give them a chance celebrate their faith via the performing arts but will also give them an insight into what it takes to be a performer.
"Before heading to Los Angeles the students will have learned invaluable 'on the job' training. By helping create the show, rehearse, workshop their performances and finally go on stage for the performance itself will teach them an enormous amount and also show them the very real demands a professional artist has to confront," says Iris McGill, Regional Primary CaSPA co-ordinator for CEO.
A member of the team who will travel with the 36 performers to Los Angeles when they fly out of Sydney on Tuesday 19 February, Iris describes the tour as an "incredible opportunity for the CaSPA students to showcase their own and John Burland's talents."
"The trip is chance to join with thousands of other students from across the US to share in Liturgy, workshops and entertainment, to make new friends and to deepen and enrich their faith," she says.
The young cast are currently in the countdown to their final rehearsal this Sunday when, in full costume they will a stage program of songs, dances and dramatic story telling to parents and close family.
"The dress rehearsal on Sunday at Southern Cross Vocational College in Burwood will be extra special and will give parents a chance to see just how talented their children are," says Iris.
Although the cast auditioned and were chosen to be part of the group last year, each had to rehearse their individual roles by themselves over the summer break relying on internet downloads from CaSPA to learn the entire two program repertoire and get their routines down pat by the time they returned to school last week.
With students from as many as 18 different schools taking part getting the entire 36 youngsters together to rehearse as a group was too difficult during the summer vacation. So the children each learned what was expected of them and were ready for a full rehearsal of all members when the new term started.
"We held a rehearsal of the program we'll be presenting at the RE Congress last weekend and each of the students taking part arrived knowing exactly what was expected of them and their repertoire. This meant all we had to do was fine tune this and concentrate on the actual staging," Irish says, paying tribute to the young cast's dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism.
Although renowned composer- musicians such as John Burland along with outside professionals and CaSPA leaders such as Iris joined together to create the music, design, choreography and program to be performed by the Years 6 to Year 12 students, the cast themselves were involved every step of the way and encouraged to give input and suggestions, many of which are now part of the show.
In addition to giving performances at the RE Congress on 22 and 23 February as well as performances at LA schools on 25 February, the students will also have a chance to enjoy themselves as tourists with planned visits to Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knotts Berry Farm as well as a chance to see the famed basketball team, the LA Lakers play. In addition the cast will take in a performance of Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical at Los Angeles' famed Pantages Theatre.
11 Feb 2013
CaSPA's dance team who are off to Los Angeles
The 36 youngsters who range in age from 11 to 17 auditioned to be part of the tour of Los Angeles which will perform at several Los Angeles schools culminating in a special performance with John Burland, the Australian-based internationally acclaimed educator and composer of religious music for children and adults. The RE Congress which will be attended by more than 50,000 young people from across the US.
John Burland who is also Project Officer for Liturgy and Music at the Archdiocese of Sydney's Catholic Education Office (CEO) will lead the team from Sydney's Catholic Schools Performing Arts (CaSPA).
The LA tour marks the third time young singers, dancers and actors from Sydney's Catholic schools have headed overseas. This 10 day trip will not only give them a chance celebrate their faith via the performing arts but will also give them an insight into what it takes to be a performer.
CaSPA Musical advisor James Long puts cast members through their paces at last week's rerhearsal
A member of the team who will travel with the 36 performers to Los Angeles when they fly out of Sydney on Tuesday 19 February, Iris describes the tour as an "incredible opportunity for the CaSPA students to showcase their own and John Burland's talents."
"The trip is chance to join with thousands of other students from across the US to share in Liturgy, workshops and entertainment, to make new friends and to deepen and enrich their faith," she says.
The young cast are currently in the countdown to their final rehearsal this Sunday when, in full costume they will a stage program of songs, dances and dramatic story telling to parents and close family.
Students at last weekend's rehearsal before heading for LA
Although the cast auditioned and were chosen to be part of the group last year, each had to rehearse their individual roles by themselves over the summer break relying on internet downloads from CaSPA to learn the entire two program repertoire and get their routines down pat by the time they returned to school last week.
With students from as many as 18 different schools taking part getting the entire 36 youngsters together to rehearse as a group was too difficult during the summer vacation. So the children each learned what was expected of them and were ready for a full rehearsal of all members when the new term started.
"We held a rehearsal of the program we'll be presenting at the RE Congress last weekend and each of the students taking part arrived knowing exactly what was expected of them and their repertoire. This meant all we had to do was fine tune this and concentrate on the actual staging," Irish says, paying tribute to the young cast's dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism.
Young actors, singers and dancers will showcase their talents at the RE Congress in LA
In addition to giving performances at the RE Congress on 22 and 23 February as well as performances at LA schools on 25 February, the students will also have a chance to enjoy themselves as tourists with planned visits to Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knotts Berry Farm as well as a chance to see the famed basketball team, the LA Lakers play. In addition the cast will take in a performance of Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical at Los Angeles' famed Pantages Theatre.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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