Welcome!

The Arts Unit of the NSW Department of Education provides opportunities for NSW students and teachers to teach, learn and lead in creative, performing and literature and language arts. We believe whoever you are, wherever you are, you understand the value of engaging in the arts and have an opportunity to do so. 

It is with great excitement that we welcome you to Compass North Coast! The 2026 concerts will see Compass Music Festival celebrating five years of the festival on the North Coast. Our festival has continued to grow and provide an opportunity for thousands of primary and secondary regional and rural students to perform in a local festival. It enhances engagement in music education and performance, providing a unique opportunity for students from NSW public schools to express themselves in a large-scale local event. 

The Festival aims to:

• encourage the development and teaching of music programs at a school level

• provide an opportunity for students and teachers to work towards a quality performance in a professional setting

• present an original, entertaining and professional event, providing a positive and memorable experience for teachers and students.

Important Information

• Please ensure that each student returns a completed permission to publish form and it is filed at your school.  The Compass team will need to be made aware of any students who are Not for Publication when you register on performance day.

• Please contact Compass Music Festival if you are bringing any students who require any additional assistance with mobility.

• Tickets for Compass Music Festival will go on sale at 7:30 am on Tuesday 21 April through  Humanitix for $15.00. All tickets must be pre-purchased as tickets will not be available on the door.

• Students' belongings should be contained within a school bag which will be placed beneath their chair during rehearsal or in a holding room if required during the performance.

• To assist with your excursion, we will provided a risk management plan for the festival and venue. 

• Principals of participating schools will receive an email invitation with a complimentary ticket to attend the performance.

All Performers

• All performers will sing in the opening and closing items Circle of Life and The Return. 

Combined Primary Choir

• Students do not need to bring repertoire to the rehearsal on the day of the concert – they will perform from memory for the concert (teachers will sing with students and CAN use sheet music).

Combined Recorder Ensemble

• Students should bring their copy of the repertoire to the rehearsal on the day of the concert – but they will perform from memory for the actual concert. 

Combined Secondary Choir

• Students and teachers should bring their music bound with a black cover or in a plain black display folder. Students should come prepared to perform without music

Featured Items

• Applications are now open and will close on Thursday 2 April 2026. 

Comperes

• Applications are now open and will close on Thursday 2 April 2026. Students should prepare this audition script.

Recorder Soloist

• Applications are now open and will close on Thursday 2 April 2026.

• Final participating student and staff numbers will be required by Tuesday 31 March 2026. The Arts Unit will then journal your school for the funds.

• Final shirt sizes will be required by Tuesday 31 March 2026. Please edit your original google form and ensure that all information is correct before the due date.

• Festival shirts will be distributed to you at the teacher meeting on rehearsal day.

• Please arrive according to the schedule. School registration will commence at 9:30 am on the day of your concert.  You will be met by members of the production team who will then direct your group to the rehearsal spaces. 

• By 9:30 am, all students should have eaten recess, been to the toilet and be ready to rehearse. Students should have a drink bottle and their food with them for when we break for lunch.

• Entry to Wiigulga Sports Complex is via Solitary Islands Way. The driveway will take you around to the venue. Be cautious of traffic and children.

• Parking is available in the Wiigulga Sports Complex car park. 

• Please limit your students’ access to toilets to scheduled break times (arrival, break time and after rehearsals).

• Teachers must actively supervise their students throughout the rehearsal and performance.

• Following rehearsals, students and teachers are able to leave the site.  Rehearsals and sound checks will be continuing inside the venue during this time. There is limited space outside the venue for schools to remain onsite, so we do encourage you to head offsite for your break.

• We are not allowed to access the fields adjacent to the venue, as this is a separate booking through the local council.

• Performers and accompanying teachers will be marshalled outside the performance venue 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the performance. Members of the production team will direct you to your positions.

• Students are asked to wear school uniforms during rehearsals. During the performance students should wear their Festival shirt with long black pants, black socks and black shoes. Accompanying teachers are asked to wear all black (and a Compass shirt if they ordered it). 

• The concert will commence at 6:30 pm and is approximately 1 hour in duration.

• There will be no interval or movement on and off stage during the performance.

• After the performance, our hosts will announce that parents will meet their school groups outside of the venue. Teardrop banners will be available to use as a gathering point. The comperes will instruct parents to identify themselves to their teachers before taking their child off-site.

• Coming soon! There will be links below to participation surveys and certificates of participation. Please distribute the participation survey links to your students and encourage them to complete them. A strong evaluation of this program is necessary to ensure it is meeting a need and continues to be offered.