Spectacular local talent

by Bonnie Collings
On Saturday September 9, state school students from across Victoria will take the stage at John Cain Arena for the Victorian State Schools Spectacular. Warragul Regional College year 10 student, Scarlett Schutte, will join the spectacular's orchestra for the second year in a row, playing the orchestra violin.
Getting involved in the spectacular has been a family affair for Scarlett and her older siblings.
"It's about the sixth or seventh year that we've been involved," Scarlett said. "My older brother was involved, then he got my sister involved. So then last year I got into it through them and the conductor as well because he's my violin teacher."
Scarlett has played violin since early primary school, following in the footsteps of her older sister.
"My older sister played the violin and I wanted to be just like her!"
This year's spectacular features a theme of global adventure, aptly named "Happy Travels". The show follows a group tourists on an adventure around the world, showcasing talents like acting, aerial acrobatics, vocal and instrumental performance and puppetry along the way. Some parts of the score have been written especially for the show, while others were suggestions from the students involved.
"Us students suggest songs throughout the year, so they take that into consideration and pick a few."
Scarlett and the other performers have spent months preparing for the spectacular, both in rehearsal and at home.
"We go up to Melbourne every Sunday, rehearsal is from 10am to 5pm," Scarlett said. "[At home] I spent a lot of my afternoon just practicing. I get home, do all my jobs and then I try and go practice until I have to stop!"
The show will run for about two hours, with a 30 minute interval in the middle. Scarlett will be on stage playing violin the whole time.
"Last year the violins only had two pieces that we weren't playing in," she said. "This year we're playing every single piece."
Students travel from all around the state to participate in the spectacular. Scarlett said it had been a great opportunity to meet and connect with like minded people as well as to develop her musical skills.
"It's been really fun. All the students are involved in similar things, so we get to talk about it together," Scarlett said. "Learning all the pieces and getting to know everyone has been fun, and getting to know all the tutors because they're really nice."
Playing some of the music has been a challenge Scarlett has worked to overcome.
"Some pieces can be fairly easy, some can be pretty hard to play," she said. "I've got in a lot of practice and I've asked my teacher to help me out with them. I've gotten new strategies to figure out how to work on those pieces."
The Victorian State Schools Spectacular will perform two shows at John Cain Arena on Saturday September 9. The matinee show will begin at 1pm and finish at 4pm. The evening show will begin at 6:30pm and finish at 9:30pm.
Tickets for the show are available for purchase at https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=STATESCH23&v=VFA&p=EVFA2023865SP.