Pulse 2007 – 2020 Sydney Opera House

In 2006, in my role of Regional Arts Coordinator for Western Sydney, one of the ten regions in the State team of the NSW Arts Unit, I created, produced and managed the first ever Western Sydney Region children in public schools’ annual musical production in the Sydney Opera House named PULSE… listen to the heartbeat of performing arts in schools. I formed a production team of stage management personal, musical direction personnel, choirs, dance troupes, public speaking and drama groups, who would, beginning in 2007, stage a one night full house, sold out show. I created a unique show-run of diverse and exemplary performances of the best of the performing Arts in Western Sydney Schools. Pulse still exists today in 2020 and is as strong as it was 14 years’ ago.

PULSE was my acronym for:

P Performing Arts

U Understanding &

L Learning by

S Showcasing

E Excellence

My proposal read as follows:

‘Western Sydney Region Opera House Event, a Showcase of Excellence in the Arts is a multi-arts event showcasing 1000 public school students from Mount Victoria to Parramatta, from Wallacia to Wiseman’s Ferry in choir, music, dance, drama and public speaking.  It is anticipated that a massed choir of 500+ K-12 students and their teachers will form the backbone of this dynamic performing arts event. 

To provide opportunities for students from public schools in Western Sydney Region to:

• perform in a major arts event at the Sydney Opera House
• experience the discipline of a professional production equal to that of their other metropolitan counterparts
• extend and enhance their skills by working with other talented performing arts students and professional artists, director and producer.

Western Sydney Region is at the hub of growth in the wider Sydney Metropolitan Area and the city of Sydney will be the location for this dynamic event. The Sydney Opera House is accessible from all parts of the region, and has facilities to cater for a performance of this magnitude.

This event is being produced by the Regional Arts Coordinator for Western Sydney, Jennifer Trezise with a dynamic production team comprising teachers from Western Sydney Schools’.

THE INAUGURAL SPEECH BY REGIONAL DIRECTOR LINDSAY WASSON in 2007:

‘It is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome you to PULSE, Western Sydney Region’s inaugural performing arts evening at the Sydney Opera House.

This magnificent building is a most fitting venue in which to showcase the outstanding talents of students from schools in Western Sydney. Tonight these young stars will entertain, delight and inspire you with their exceptional talent, enthusiasm and professionalism.

I extend my thanks and congratulations to the many students and staff from across the region involved in all aspects of this performance. This evening of excellence is the culmination of their planning, hard work and commitment over many months.

I would particularly like to acknowledge the exceptional leadership and management of Jennifer Trezise, Regional Arts Coordinator, Western Sydney and her PULSE Team who have made a reality of our very ambitious vision for the Performing Arts in Western Sydney.

I believe PULSE will establish a benchmark for the Performing Arts in our Region and I look forward to seeing PULSE continue as a signature event for our students into the future’.