Massed Choir
Eligibility and selection
A massed choir of over 1000 students each night will form the backbone of this dynamic performing arts event which will play to an audience of over 3000.
Participation in the massed choir is open to groups of students who currently attend a NSW public school from:
Years 3 to 6 in 2024 (primary choir)
Years 7 to 12 in 2024 (secondary choir).
Groups comprising students of all backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to nominate.
There is no audition video required to be part of the massed choir and no upper limit on the number of students each school can nominate. We encourage all schools to extend this opportunity to the widest range of students possible.
Teachers will be informed of the final numbers accepted into the event once all applications close. Changes to nominated numbers may be required due to considerations around venue capacity for rehearsals and performances as well as ensuring access to the event is open to as many schools as possible.
At this time, teachers will also be informed if they have been allocated as Cast A (performance on Thursday 14 March) or Cast B (performance on Friday 15 March). As part of the application process teachers will be able to preference dates they are available for rehearsals and performances.
Please note, it is not possible for a student to participate in their school group for massed choir as well as another category.
Due to logistical limitations, we are unable to accommodate individual students participating in this category. Talented choristers should consider applying for the principal choir.
Important application information - changes for 2024
To ensure the ongoing viability of the show, the Pulse Alive team have introduced some changes to the application process for the 2024 event:
Submission of the online nomination form commits your school to paying the student resource fee ($52 per student), whether or not you end up participating in the event. All schools who apply will be given access to the choreography and choral music resources, as well as provided with a t-shirt for each student who applies. It will not be possible to issue any refunds if students or schools withdraw after the closing date of the online nomination form.
The t-shirt order will form part of the nomination process - please ascertain your students' t-shirt sizes prior to submitting the nomination form. There may be limited opportunity for size swaps in early 2024 to accommodate changes in the make-up of your participating group.
To assist in this process, the Permission to Publish and Participate form for Pulse Alive 2024 is now available - this will enable you to send information out to your students so you can confirm numbers prior to submitting your online nomination form. These forms should be kept on file at your school and not returned to The Arts Unit.
Thank you in advance for your understanding around these changes. They have been put in place to ensure that Pulse Alive is able to continue providing these opportunities for equity and excellence in arts education well into the future.
How to apply
Applications are now open for schools to nominate to be part of the Massed Choir.
Please complete the Pulse Alive 2024 - Massed Choir nomination form by Tuesday 7 November (Term 4 Week 5).
Key dates
Massed primary and secondary choir - key dates
Nominations close and t-shirt orders due: Tuesday 7 November (Term 4 Week 5)
Schools informed of final numbers accepted and choir teaching resources distributed: Monday 13 November (Term 4 Week 6)
Primary Choir Preliminary Rehearsal - Cast A: Tuesday 5 March 2024 (Term 1 Week 6)
Primary Choir Preliminary Rehearsal - Cast B: Wednesday 6 March 2024 (Term 1 Week 6)
Secondary Choir Preliminary Rehaersal - Casts A & B: Thursday 7 March 2024 (Term 1 Week 6)
Performance day - Cast A: Thursday 14 March 2024 (Term 1 Week 7)
Performance day - Cast B: Friday 15 March 2024 (Term 1 Week 7)
Rehearsals
All schools involved in massed choir must attend a full day preliminary rehearsal during Term 1 Week 6, prior to Pulse Alive 2024.
As part of the nomination process, schools will be able to preference which cast they are part of and, therefore, which rehearsal they attend.
Rehearsals will be held at Netball Central - 2 Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park.
Confirmed rehearsal and performance dates will be communicated to schools on acceptance into the show in mid Term 4.
Each school will only be required to participate in one preliminary rehearsal per category they have applied for.
Schools are expected to attend their preliminary rehearsal in person.
Preliminary choir rehearsals will run from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Schools will be required to attend for the full day.
Provision will be made for schools more than 2 hours travel time from Sydney Olympic Park participating in massed choir to attend preliminary rehearsals virtually if required.
Performance day
Performance day includes a compulsory final rehearsal, venue rehearsal and performance.
Schools should expect to be in attendance from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm on their performance day. Final schedule details will be communicated during Term 4 2023.
All schools must attend these compulsory rehearsals in person.
Repertoire
All music for Pulse Alive 2023 will be distributed digitally, along with teaching tracks. These will be made available to schools on Wednesday 8 November (Term 4 Week 5).
Primary choirs will perform in unison for all aspects of Pulse Alive 2024.
Secondary choirs will perform in unison for most pieces in Pulse Alive 2024, but a optional SAB arrangement will be made available for a number of pieces for schools that wish to take up that option.
Costume
The performance clothes for all massed choir groups will be as follows:
Silver Pulse Alive t-shirt – this is the show t-shirt that is included within your student resource fee. All shirts for the choir will be white
Long black pants – these will need to be supplied by students. We are pretty flexible on what these are, as long as they are full length.
Black shoes and socks – these will need to be supplied by students.
As with previous years, an optional hoodie and cap will be made available for ordering for students and staff that wish to do so. This information will be distributed in mid-Term 4.
Resource fee
There will be a resource fee of $52 per student.
The resource fee assists with the costs involved in the conductors, choreographers and tutors working with the students, supports a number of music copyright costs and the creation of teaching resources and includes a Pulse Alive t-shirt, which will be worn by all performers as their costume during the event.
For school groups participating in massed choir, the resource fee will be direct debited in late Term 4, based on the number of students applied for during the nomination process. It will not be possible to issue any refunds if students or schools withdraw after the closing date of the online nomination form.
Third-party content attributions
Pulse Alive 2021/22 images, photographer: Anna Warr
