WA Public Secondary Schools' Choral and Solo Vocal Festival

WA Public Secondary Schools' Choral and Solo Vocal Festival

Event details

Date: Saturday 5 September 2026

Venue: Churchlands Senior High School

Eligibility: The WA Public Secondary Schools’ Choral and Solo Vocal Festival is open to public secondary schools. 

Choral performances 
School choirs with members attending the same school, under the direction of an Instrumental Music School Services teacher or a classroom music teacher from the school.

There are 4 divisions in the festival:

  1. Novice: beginner or inexperienced choirs at any year level.
  2. Open: any choirs, including compulsory and non-compulsory choirs.
  3. Show: choirs presenting a show-style performance with a program including the use of harmonies in the arrangements. These choirs may use a recorded backing. There will be no microphone provided for soloists.
  4. Audition: students at any year level selected for membership of the choir by audition. Auditioned chamber choirs will fit into this category.

Solo vocalists 
The festival is open to students enrolled in Years 8, 9 and 10 music courses in Western Australian public schools. Students must be studying singing with a teacher provided by Instrumental Music School Services (IMSS).

There are 3 sections for soloists in the festival:

  • classical and folk
  • music theatre
  • jazz and contemporary.

Applications: Applications open Week 1, Term 2 on Monday 20 April 2026 and close Week 9 , Term 2 on Friday 19 June 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. Access the online application form.

Tickets: Entry to the festival is free to all public secondary schools.

The aims of the WA Public Secondary Schools' Choral and Solo Vocal Festival are to provide:

  • a choral performance opportunity for all secondary students
  • choirs with an opportunity to hear others perform
  • each choir with constructive comments from informed adjudicators
  • IMSS students an opportunity to perform and be adjudicated.
School choirs

Each participating choir can:

  • present a program of up to 2 songs 
  • perform for up to 10 minutes.
Soloists

Each participating soloist can:

  • perform in one section only
  • present only one piece and must not exceed 4 minutes.

Participants in the jazz and contemporary, and music theatre sections may use backing tracks. Tracks must not include backing vocals.

Choirs

Choirs will share a 90-minute timeslot with other choirs. Before their timeslot, choirs will warm up. Then they will sit in the concert hall and move to and from the stage when it’s their turn to perform.

Soloists

Each soloist will share a 60-minute timeslot with other soloists. Before their timeslot, they will warm up and then go to their performance venue.

Photographs of participating choirs from the 2025 festival are available for viewing and purchase at ProPhotoBooth. Use the password 'choral25'.

One of the reasons for the outstanding success of the festival is the contribution made by volunteers. Some of the tasks we need volunteers for include stage management and marshalling.

Volunteering is a great way to meet other directors and hear ensembles from other schools and divisions.

If you are interested in volunteering, register for your preferred session or sessions using the online database.

Contact us

For queries about this event, email Instrumental Music School Services at IM.SS.Events@education.wa.edu.au.