Local students get Starstruck

Students from many Central Coast public schools recently performed at the regional music and dance extravaganza Starstruck in Newcastle.

Starstruck is an annual performing arts spectacular presented by Newcastle, Hunter and Central Coast schools as part of the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to the performing arts.

Like many schools across the Coast, Terrigal Public School has been a regular attendee, training, practising and building students up to perform each year in June.

Terrigal teachers Courtney Barnett and Lisa Bolte took 32 students to Newcastle this year.

The teachers have been working with students on their respective performances for two terms in order to get things right over the two-day spectacular.

Both are great advocates for the Starstruck program and Bolte said they were proud of watching their students perform in front of a live audience.

“There were more than 3,500 students participating this year from schools across the Hunter and Central Coast,” she said.

“There were dance acts, drama, band, a choir of more than 500 students who all put together an amazing showcase.”

Young Ashley Bagus Musdyantoko from Terrigal Public School was excited to be part of the weekend’s activities, which gave her a chance to see the performances of others in her age group and beyond.

Teacher Sarah Patterson from Lake Munmorah High School has been part of Starstruck since 2010.

“I used to conduct the choir and am now part of the vocal music team,” she said.

“(Starstruck) is an amazing opportunity for Hunter and Central Coast students to perform locally instead of having to go to Sydney for a mass production experience.

The two-day event of dance, drama and music was held over the June long weekend featuring students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

As one of the largest performance events presented in the greater region, it enjoys immense local support from the corporate and business sectors, the media and the community.

David Abrahams