WORDS Chris McWilliams  PHOTOS Tony Lewis

The Catholic Schools Music Festival in South Australia began back in 1989 as a single performance by just a handful of primary schools in a humble college hall. Now,17 years on, the event has just completed a four-night sell-out run at Adelaide's famous Festival Theatre. Chris McWilliams went backstage to find out why the festival continues to hit all the right notes.

A voice rings out from the stage, 'We need one phonebook ... boy in the white shirt ... row eight.'

One of Ivy's team emerges from the wings with a heavy black item held aloft. It turns out it is a real phonebook, wrapped in black cloth used to give that extra few inches to the shorter members of the festival choir.

It is attention to details like this that might well be the secret of the Catholic Schools Music Festival's success. Or at least one of the secrets. You don't sell out a 2000-seat theatre for four successive nights simply by standing kids on phonebooks. It takes a whole lot of talent too. And hard work.

Ivy Hill, committee chair since 1995, has seen the festival blossom over the years, though she claims her backstage commitments mean she has never actually properly seen the show.

'It's a fantastic showcase of what we're doing in Catholic education in music here in South Australia', she says, taking time out on a hectic morning of rehearsals on the final day of the run between 13-16 September to be interviewed.

'The talent among these children is outstanding. It never ceases to amaze me that children so young have got such an incredible capacity for music.'

This year, more than 2000 students from 65 schools in Adelaide and across South Australia - even as far away as Roxby Downs and Whyalla - took part in the festival.

And although the quality of the performances is vitally important to the growing musical reputation of the festival, the real focus is on participation.

'In most schools, children don't have to audition to be in the choirs-it's any child who wants to sing', says Ms Hill, who is principal of Mater Christi School in Seaton, Adelaide. 'They might be out of tune but it doesn't matter.

'It's about them enjoying performing and enjoying touching music and music touching them. Even if it touches one child, it's worth all the work.'

Along with the choirs, a number of support acts are also invited to take part in the performance each night. Among this year's acts were the precocious talents of the Alex Wignall Trio, a jazz three-piece from Cabra College; the highly regarded St Mary's Singers Inc and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, fresh from a performance with jazz trumpeter James Morrison; and Nicola Buckland from Saint Ignatius' College with a mesmerising flute piece by Genin.

Support-acts coordinator Tim Donovan said in all 90 acts had auditioned for the 2006 festival, with 28 finally being chosen.

'We have kids who have never performed on a stage this size, to those who are seasoned performers. The majority come off the stage saying that it was amazing.'

The real driving force behind the festival is musical director Denise Rothall. What started as a part-time job has now become a year-round labour of love for Ms Rothall, who was celebrating her 10th festival as director this year.

'She's extremely talented and professional', says Ms Hill. 'She really understands children and choral singing and she has a big picture of what the festival is going to look like, how it all fits together and what songs to choose.'

Ms Rothall, who spends the year visiting schools, liaising with more than 60 choir trainers and planning the repertoire and choreography, is naturally more modest about her achievements. But it is clear she too is a stickler for detail.

'Not many people realise the entertainment world is disciplined. They just see the end result', she says.

'I just trust that the students know what they're doing and that together on stage we're going to have a wonderful, comfortable time.

'They always want to do the very, very best they can do and if you let them know you totally trust them and you've got respect for them, then it works.'

And although this year's shows are over - and have, by all accounts, been a roaring success - neither Ms Rothall or the committee are resting on their laurels.

Forward thinking for the 2007 festival starts almost immediately, with Ms Rothall beginning her program just a few weeks after the curtain falls on the final night.

';We'll start planning next year's concert now, as soon as this one is finished', says Ms Hill.

The music never stops.

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