YOUNG local muso Mitchell Brown is madly rehearsing for his performances at this year's Rotary Manning Valley Schools Spectacular.
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Mitch, who has been playing piano since age five, and who also plays clarinet with the Greater Taree City Youth Band, has a special project in the entertainment extravaganza that raised $40,000 last year for the Australian Childrens Music Foundation (ACMF).
The 13-year-old will represent Taree High School, playing a jazz prelude by Christopher Norton, and hopes George Ellis, conductor of Sydney Symphony, will perform in a piano trio with his dad Trevor.
"Last year Mr Ellis came and spoke to the Greater Taree City Youth Band about his experiences as a young musician.
"He let it slip that he was a bass player in a rock band before he became a conductor. So I have asked him to play my jazz prelude with me on stage!"
Mitch describes the opportunity as "seriously cool" and is looking forward to more celebrity performances in the show.
"This year our special guests are working really hard on including young local musicians in their performances. It's very generous of them since they already give up their time to help us."
Last year's concert featured some very special guests including actors George Houvardas (Packed To The Rafters) and John Waters (Offspring), Don Spencer OAM (ACMF founder) and conductor of Sydney Symphony George Ellis.
All of these amazing artists had such a wonderful time they have asked to come back and perform at this year's Spectacular.
Musical theatre star Rachael Beck is also performing this year.
Tickets are now on sale for these very special performances.
School-aged musicians from across the Manning Valley will join special guests and students from the ACMF music programs for two concerts at the Manning Entertainment Centre on August 27, starting at 11am and 7pm.