Geelong Schools Music and Movement Festival shines

AFTER a two-year hiatus, the Geelong Schools Music and Movement Festival has returned with schools from across our region celebrating creativity and passion.

Primary and secondary school students were invited to take centre stage at the 74th running of the festival at Costa Hall, Deakin University Geelong Waterfront from August 16 to 18, showcasing their artistic talent for their peers, parents and friends in a celebration of the arts in the G21 region.

Students from 26 schools across the region were allocated specific sessions to sing, dance, dazzle with circus tricks and play in rock bands and orchestras during the festival, with each session running for 90 minutes in duration.

The festival was offered as part of Geelong Arts Centre’s Creative Learning Offering, which aims to raise participation in the arts allowing for students to excel in their studies whilst living a happy and healthy life.

The festival’s longevity is a direct result of the exceptional dedication of teachers, students, sponsors, and Geelong Arts Centre staff,” Geelong Arts Centre CEO & Creative Director Joel McGuinness said.

“Many schools return year after year to be a part of this event, and for many, the experience they gain performing on the stage ignites a life-long passion for the performing arts.”

According to Geelong Arts Centre Associate Producer Emily Donoghue, the festival went down as a great success once again, giving children the chance to strut their artistic talents for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.

“What a joyful week of creativity we experienced for Geelong Arts Centre’s 74th Geelong Schools Music and Movement Festival,” Ms Donoghue said.

After a two-year hiatus, students and educators of our region reinforced with gusto the power of the performing arts in providing wonderful opportunities for expression, relationship-building and development in confidence.

“Students in Prep to VCE have had smiles plastered across their faces while showcasing their skills and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from students, teachers, and loved ones in the audience.”

The Geelong Arts Centre look forward to facilitating the event once again for the community and its school children once again in 2023.