About 1600 students, including Gunnedah district’s own, shone brightly at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre earlier this month for three massive performances.
Creative Arts in Public Education Regional Spectacular, known more commonly as CAPERS, is a performing arts show highlighting talent across the New England area.
This year’s massive production with students aged kinder to year 12 from 47 schools, included featured performers from Gunnedah shire’s own children. This year’s theme was Tapestry – threads of talent, one masterpiece.
Only five primary aged students were chosen for solos in 2025, as most went to seniors. Despite that, four of the shire’s young talents stepped forward as featured vocalists.
Carroll Public School’s Annabelle Goldrick, aged eight, was the youngest featured performer.
Annabelle said it was one of the best opportunities she has been involved with and has “loved every moment of it”.
“I’ve made so many new friends and learnt so much about performing with a live band and dancers,” she said.
“I can’t wait to be involved again in 2027 and take on the next challenge of auditioning for school spectacular next year.”
Carroll Public School’s Annabelle Goldrick was the youngest featured vocalist at CAPERS.
Among those also in the spotlight were Gunnedah South Public School who had three children in year six with solos – Annabelle Mitchell, Milley Cahill and Cameron Yianakis.
The year six students had committed to two days of workshops nearly every month since being picked from successful auditions back in March.
Annabelle had a solo in the song This is Me.
“It was pretty nerve-racking, but it was also really fun,” she said. “Once you do it, you think, ‘that wasn’t so bad’.”
While this was not her first time singing solo, it was certainly her first time finding her voice in front of such a large crowd.
For her, a highlight was interacting with other schools and finding camaraderie along the way.
“It was really good getting to make new friendships with people,” she said,
“The older kids actually treat you like normal people not like toddlers”
For Milley, her solos were in Colour My World and A Friend Like You.
“At first I was very nervous because I didn’t really start performing until last year,” she said. “But it definitely was a great experience.”
This experience will likely lead to more performances for her as she will be looking to continue singing after the experience.
Cameron was a featured vocalist in Fly Away by Tones and I. The student has experience singing in other productions such as the Gunnedah Conservatorium’s Wizard of Oz earlier this year.
“I’ve done a lot of other performances, but this was definitely my biggest one,” he said.
Cameron is excited about having another shot at performing at CAPERS in 2027.
The talent does not stop there. Multiple schools across the area had students take part in singing and dance including Gunnedah High School, GS Kidd School, Gunnedah South Public School and Gunnedah Public School.
