A Glen Innes schoolgirl could star in this year's Schools Spectacular, an annual showcase of the very best talents across NSW public schools.
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Jennifer May Mackenzie, 17, in Year 12 at Glen Innes High School, is in the running to become a featured artist or backing vocalist. Thousands of hopeful applicants send in video auditions, but only a handful make it through four rigorous auditions.
Jennifer has reached the third round. This is the first time she has come this far, although she made it to the first live callback in 2017 and 2018. She passed the first round of live auditions, and has progressed to the intermediate auditions in May.
If she succeeds, she will perform at the 18,000-seat Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, in November. Channel 7 will broadcast the concert in December.
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"I feel very excited," Jennifer said. "It's been three years for me working towards it, and getting closer to my goal gives me gratitude in knowing that my hard work is paying off.
"I'm very grateful that the Glen Innes community has always been supportive of me since day one. With my goal being featured vocalist at Schools Spectacular, I will raise the flag of Glen Innes and Glen Innes High School's name for broadcast! I'm very honoured to represent my small town."
After organisers viewed her audition video, Jennifer progressed to a live callback audition at the Arts Unit, Lewisham, on April 9. It was two-and-a-half hours of vocal warm-up, sets of music test, and a panel audition.
Jennifer sang an original song she wrote, "You So Smooth" (played on triple j), and performed "Somewhere That's Green" from The Little Shop of Horrors.
The intermediate audition - a 40-minute vocal and performance session - is held on May 2. If successful, Jennifer passes to the fourth and final round of the audition.
Jennifer said she is excited about the audition, but gets more nervous as the days go by. "I will use that nervousness as my adrenaline to do well, I guess!" she said.
Her mother Ellen May Mackenzie said reaching the third round was a huge achievement, considering the wide number of amazing vocalists across the state.
Now Jennifer is competing against the elite - people who made it to the Schools Spectacular in higher years who reauditioned. Those who reach the third round are potential soloists, while some applicants are also fast-tracked to the final audition for backing vocalists.
"Jennifer's very close, and I think she has a good chance," Ellen said.
Jennifer performed in the last two Schools Spectacular concerts. She was a featured hip-hop dancer last year, and a member of the State Dance Ensemble in 2017. She has two years of experience with the prior two auditions, and attended a talent development program.
Before joining the state Schools Spectacular, Jennifer was both featured solo vocalist and dancer in the biennial CAPERSS (Creative Arts in Public Education Regional Schools Spectacular) at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre in 2017.
"Jennifer will prepare her best," Ellen said; "hopefully, she can give Glen Innes High School and the Glen Innes community this gift.
"Because Jennifer has been in the Schools Spectacular and a lot of state performing arts activities in Sydney, now they are very much aware of Glen Innes. It's such a prestigious thing to be in this level."