School kids with musical talent are being offered the opportunity to secure paid work by showcasing their act at Tocal Field Days.
Held between April 29 to May 1 at the Tocal Agricultural Centre, Tocal Field Days is the number one field day in the Hunter region, with a record of 28,000 people in attendance last year.
Tocal Field Days manager Charise Foulstone said Talent at Tocal was another way the event gave back to the local community.
“We want to give talented young people real music industry experience in front of a real audience,” Foulstone said.
“We’re calling for applications to audition later this month from Hunter and Central Coast school students, aged 10 and over, who sing, play an instrument or both.”
Foulstone said Talent at Tocal wasn’t a talent quest but an opportunity for students aged 10 to 18 to be paid commercial rates to perform at various locations within the event.
“Performances need to be in keeping with a family-oriented rural community event, but they don’t have to be strictly country music,” Foulstone said.
17 -year-old Emily Crouch performed at the event last year and has registered to perform again.
The Callaghan College Jesmond High School student is a singer, guitarist and songwriter.
She said Talent at Tocal at the Tocal Field Days was a great experience that fuelled her confidence.
“There were so many people at Tocal, and lots of people stopped to listen and came up to me to say they loved my voice and performances,” Emily said.
“I’ve always loved music and have been singing since I could talk. I would 100 per cent recommend other performers take this opportunity at Tocal to get performance experience and a chance to showcase your talent to lots of people.”
The student said the experience at Tocal Field Days encouraged her to continue singing and songwriting.
At this year’s event, and under her stage name of Jadily, Emily will perform her new, yet to be released single Physically There, a song inspired by her experience of the pandemic.
“The song is about people missing out on being physically with people but being mentally there and connecting in other ways.”
Residents interested in performing at Tocal must apply by February 22.
Application forms are available on the Tocal Field Days website or at local school offices.
Auditions will be held on February 23 and March 5 at Tocal Agricultural Centre, and tickets for the event will go on sale in March.
Information source: Tocal Field Days