By Kyra Gillespie
Multi-talented Pakenham performer Matilda Weaver has landed herself the competitive role of backing vocalist in this year’s Victorian State Schools Spectacular.
Only eight out of 3000 young performers are chosen for the backing vocal role, of which Matilda was one.
As a backing vocalist, Matilda has to learn 25 songs and attend all-day weekend rehearsals – on top of her Year 9 schooling requirements and her position as a singing and dancing scholar at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance in Melbourne.
“This will be my third year performing in the State Schools Spectacular.
“The first year I was really unsure about doing it.
“But a friend of mine did and told me to give it a go – so I went for it!” Matilda said.
For the past two years Matilda was an ensemble vocalist and dancer.
With only two more rehearsals to go before the big performance at Hisense Arena, Matilda is feeling ready to get back up on the stage.
“It’s so exciting to see all the empty chairs in the arena knowing they are going to be full of people.
“They have these huge projector screens on the side that you can see yourself in when you’re standing on the stage in the middle. It’s so cool.”
This year’s extravaganza will feature the principal cast of a 64-piece orchestra, 30 lead vocalists, 16 principal dancers, 20 ensemble dancers, eight backing vocalists, a magician, roller skaters, puppeteers and a 1300-voice choir and 1200 mass dancers.
“Once you’re there with everyone you really feel that your hard work has finally paid off.
“The best part is being all together; it’s like one big family,” Matilda said.
Participating students work with, and learn from, industry professionals.
“The performers get to be mentored by so many industry professionals, it really is an amazing opportunity,” Matilda’s mum Cassandra Weaver said.
“She’s a hard- working and talented girl – I’m very proud of her.”
After school Matilda hopes to turn her passion for performance into a professional career.
After hearing the pipes on her, and to think that she’s only in Year 9, there’s no doubt that she will succeed in anything she puts her mind to.
