2018 Captivate shines during spectacular showcase performance

The Captivate Choir lead by David Russell from the Captivate team

Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta students had the opportunity to shine when the Captivate performing and creative arts program recently hosted its 10th Anniversary Showcase at Quaycentre, Sydney Olympic Park.

The show combined a spectacular musical ensemble of 165 students, backed up by the 1000-student primary choir and 190-student secondary choir singing songs such as One Dream, Come Back to the Sea, Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning and River Run Free.

VIDEO: A glimpse into the amazing Captivate performance

This was complemented by a dance ensemble of 382 dancers who kept audiences enraptured. There was also a secondary drama ensemble of 90 students and a student ‘spoken word choir’ comprising 80 students from four primary schools.

One of the highlights of the performance was the use of puppetry and props to reflect the showcase’s storyline. The impact of the puppets was dramatic, guiding the audience through show’s theme of ‘creativity’: from the igniting of the creative spark, through to creative play, creative block, creative flow, and finally creative genius. The show’s finale was a stunning performance of Rihanna’s Diamonds in the Sky.

Students performing as part of the showcase

Captivate director Mark Hopkins said that for many students involved, it was their first major public performance.

“Others were consolidating many years of practice, rehearsal and performing, honing their skills for HSC practical examinations in the coming weeks or auditions for specialist post school arts study pathways in the coming months.

“Captivate is the program by which all students, regardless of prior experience or the location of their school, can access specialist learning in the arts.

Dancers performing on stage

“With a constant stream of research documenting evidence of the cognitive and social benefits of arts participation and learning, it is vital that such learning is part of each child’s education.”

The Quaycentre at Olympic Park where the showcase was held

St Andrew’s Primary, Marayong acting Principal Kim McDonald described the show as a rewarding experience for all those involved.

“Students have been rehearsing since February, both during recess and lunch breaks and also at formal off-site rehearsals with other students in the Diocese as well as during the school holidays,’’ Mrs McDonald said.

The grand finale

“This level of collaboration and creativity has provided opportunities for students to express themselves in a unique way. We are so proud of the students and thank them for their commitment, enthusiasm and persistence over such a long period of time.”

Written By

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au

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04 Mar 2026
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💦 🏊‍♂️ Diocesan Swimming Carnival! 🏊‍♂️ 💦 A massive congratulations to Flynn, Willow, Annabelle, Charlee, Shelby and Frankie who represented us at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival today! Incredible personal bests were set and the effort from every single one of them was absolutely amazing — we couldn't be prouder! A special shoutout to our Junior Girls Relay Team — Charlee, Frankie, Annabelle and Shelby — who not only swam a brilliant race together but also qualified for the NSW CPS Swimming Championships! And congratulations to Flynn, Charlee and Shelby who have qualified for the Parramatta Diocese Swim Team to compete in individual events at the NSW CPS Swimming Championships in April! What an incredible achievement — we'll be cheering you on all the way! Well done to everyone who took part — you should all be so proud of yourselves! #Swimming #DioceesanCarnival #NSWCPSSwimming #ParramattaDiocese #PersonalBest #ProudOfYou

03 Mar 2026
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☀️🏃🏽‍♂️Cross Country Carnival 2026 🏃🏽‍♂️☀️ Last Wednesday, our students hit the track for an incredible Cross Country Carnival! With the sun shining and spirits high, it was a fantastic day filled with determination and team spirit! We were thrilled to see school records broken — an outstanding achievement by our talented runners! More importantly, the day was a true celebration of great sportsmanship, encouragement and school pride. Every student gave their best and supported one another, making it a fun and memorable event for all. #CrossCountryCarnival #SchoolSport #ProudSchool #Sportsmanship #SchoolRecords #FunInTheSun #ActiveKids