COMMUNITY – Hidden talents of our staff

A number of our staff members at St Ursula’s possess impressive talents outside of their professional roles at the College. Most recently, three of them had the opportunity to showcase these skills through performances in and around the Sydney Opera House as part of Sydney’s Vivid Festival. Here are their stories…

ChorusOz 2026

What does a gardener and a receptionist have in common? They both love to sing! Over the long weekend two of our staff, Anthony Gauci and Rachel Maiden participated in the 2026 ChorusOz production of AIDA.

Each year singers come from around Australia, and indeed the world, for the opportunity to sing at the Sydney Opera House alongside a group of talented soloists with a professional orchestra. This year an abridged concert version of AIDA was the showcase.

Verdi’s AIDA is one of the world’s most celebrated operas, featuring powerful music, dramatic storytelling, and breathtaking choral performances. After months of personal preparation, Anthony and Rachel joined with 800+ singers for a weekend of rehearsals, culminating in a sold-out performance in the Concert Hall on Sunday night.

Anthony says “It was a truly memorable experience. Performing before enthusiastic audiences and sharing in the excitement of live music made for a very rewarding and enjoyable long weekend.”

Anthony and Rachel both sing with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. As Rachel says “singing with an organisation that provides such a broad range of opportunities for singers of all abilities, is unique. It is a hobby that is both exhilarating and gratifying.” Rachel is touring with the choir in July performing at the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival. Their next performance together will be Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem in October at the Sydney Opera House.

Anthony Gauci & Rachel Maiden
Gardener & Receptionist

Cristal Palace Lights Up Vivid 2026

As a Performing Arts teacher, I believe it’s important to continually develop and maintain your skills, whether through further study or by staying connected to the professional industry. Over the long weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to do just that when I was selected, alongside seven other Australian dancers, to perform in the French touring company’s spectacular production, Cristal Palace. Presented as part of Vivid Sydney 2026, this breathtaking open-air extravaganza transformed the Sydney Opera House forecourt into a world of music, movement and wonder. Audiences were taken on a dazzling journey featuring aerialists, dancers, circus acrobats and live musicians. The show’s centrepiece was a giant crystal chandelier suspended by crane above both the stage and audience, carrying ten musicians high in the air while aerial performers executed gravity-defying feats more than 20 feet above the ground creating a truly magical spectacle against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.

One of the greatest highlights of the experience was working alongside world-class international artists, gaining an insight into the enormous technical preparation required to bring a production of this scale to life and building connections with fellow local talent.

Another special moment was spotting familiar faces in the crowd, including students and staff cheering us on as we polkaed our way through the audience each evening. Back at school on Tuesday morning, many students and staff were eager to hear all about the production, stopping me in the corridors with questions and sharing their amazement at the scale of the show after seeing photos and videos from the weekend.

Performing at the Sydney Opera House has been a lifelong dream of mine. To share that stage for three unforgettable nights in front of thousands of people, beneath a chandelier filled with musicians floating overhead, was nothing short of extraordinary. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a reminder of the exciting opportunities that the performing arts can create.

Experiences like this are a powerful reminder that performing never truly leaves you. The skills, passion and connections developed through the arts can continue to open doors long after you leave the stage or classroom. You never know what opportunities might be waiting just around the corner, which is why it is so important to keep saying “yes” to new challenges and to continue pursuing the things you love.