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Airdate: Schools Spectacular: The Best of 25 Years

The ABC will screen more Schools Spectacular specials than you could hope for, this December.

Once again the ABC will screen the annual Schools Spectacular in December.

The event features some 3,000 singers, dancers and musicians, a 1200-voice choir, an 80-piece orchestra, 1500 dancers, rock, jazz and brass bands and soloists from ages 5 to 18. Hosted again by John Foreman it will screen on Sunday December 14 at 7.30pm on ABC1 & ABC HD, with the complete 2½ hour version on Sunday December 21 at 2.30pm. Original compere, Rolf Harris will also return.

To celebrate its 25th year the ABC also has Schools Spectacular: The Best of 25 Years, screening on Sunday December 7, 2.30pm and Sunday December 14 at 2.30pm.

The event been an early music turning point for future performers including Australian Idol finalists Paulini and Roshani Priddis, jazz diva Emma Pask, country music stars Travis Collins, The McClymonts and Darren Coggan, Hi-5’s Nathan Foley, and Ten Tenors’ Shannon Brown.

Press Release:
In 2008, ABC TV will broadcast an unprecedented level of coverage of the world’s biggest youth variety extravaganza – the Schools Spectacular.

Hosted by John Foreman, the 25th annual Schools Spectacular 2008 (90-min version) will screen on Sunday December 14 at 7.30pm on ABC1 & ABC HD. It will also be available on ABC iView the following day.

In addition, ABC2 will broadcast the complete 2½ hour version of the Schools Spectacular 2008 on Sunday December 21 at 2.30pm, as well as streaming it on abc.net.au/schoolsspectacular.

And to celebrate 25 years of the event, ABC2 has pulled the best Schools Spectacular performances from the vault for two special programs – Schools Spectacular: The Best of 25 Years, screening on Sunday December 7, 2.30pm and Sunday December 14 at 2.30pm.

This year’s spectacular will reach new heights with guest appearances from some of the show’s outstanding success stories. Australian Idol finalists Paulini and Roshani Priddis, jazz diva Emma Pask, country music stars Travis Collins, The McClymonts and Darren Coggan, Hi-5’s Nathan Foley, and Ten Tenors’ Shannon Brown are just some of the artists to cut their performing teeth in the Schools Spectacular.

Viewers will also be treated to a very special guest appearance, when Rolf Harris, who was the host of the first ever Schools Spectacular in 1984, returns. “The Schools Spectaculars are exciting events for me. It’s a special thrill to be able to join all these brilliant kids in the 25th Spectacular,” says Rolf.

Director Mary Lopez AM has been behind the helm of all 25 shows. This will be her final year as Creative Director.

Featuring 3,000 talented singers, dancers and musicians, the Spectacular is a brilliantly choreographed and costumed production delivered on an epic scale. A 1200-voice choir, an 80-piece orchestra, 1500 dancers, rock, jazz and brass bands and talented soloists from ages 5 to 18 are all woven into a totally integrated seamless production.

Schools Spectacular compère John Foreman’s performing career also began at the Schools Spectacular. “I was a student at Kotara High School in Newcastle and was in a jazz band that played in the foyer of the Entertainment Centre during interval. The next year, I was performing centre stage inside,” says John.

“It was a moment that changed my life, and I can see, each year, lives being changed by the opportunities created by this event. It’s an incredible event, a magical night of entertainment and an amazing, uplifting night of television.”

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