Early this year a combined group of schools auditioned to play at the 2009 Choral Primary Festival at the Opera House.

The group consisted of students from Bonshaw, Kentucky, Dunoon, Yarrowitch and Woolbrook.

They played the musical instruments marimbas and echocellos.

The three Bonshaw students Olivia Finlay, Phoebe Shannon and Shyla Smith had to commit themselves to lots of practice for weeks and weeks leading up to the concert by travelling to Kentucky several times and taking instruments home as well as practicing on Wednesdays with the school’s music teacher.

The Choral festival was a series of five exciting concerts that showcased the musical talents of more than 6,000 school students from across NSW.

At the heart of the concerts was a 700 voice combined choir. The concert provided Bonshaw students with the unforgettable memory of performing on the stage of Australia’s premier concert hall.

The Primary Choral Festival commenced in 1947 and now represents the longest running musical activity associated with public school education in NSW.

It has a proud tradition and is selective through the process of auditions into what items get to perform.

The girls and their fellow performers also toured around the sights of Sydney and did a bit of busking at Bondi, earning more than $500 in an hour or two.

The trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity and has a lot of positive flow on effects in many areas of the girl’s school and personal lives.

The girls will never forget their time performing in front of thousands at the Sydney Opera House.

Bonshaw principal Mick Collins said he wanted to thank Sonya Finlay for being a great escort for the girls and for driving them to practices.

“A big thank you also to Mr Danny Spillane from Kentucky for his hard work in conducting and organising a lot of the trip.

“Bonshaw may be a small school in numbers but this is another example of how we are big in opportunities.”