MORE than 8300 students have this week been rehearsing and performing in Pulse Alive – a show-stopping Sydney Olympic Park event held over three big nights, with a huge curtain-closing finale scheduled tonight.

Performers from Moree Secondary College include Amber Muller, Esther Litchfield, Pearl Humphries and Imogen Brazel.

Pearl and Imogen danced on Thursday night as part of the massed secondary dance cast and Amber and Esther have performed at all shows, including tonight.

Moree students have been rehearsing and performing under the watchful eye of Moree Secondary College The Arts Unit arts co-ordination officer, Leigh Carroll.

Amber said Pulse Alive has given her the chance to share her passion for performing for others.

“All the principal performers and the amazing Pulse production team are so passionate, encouraging and welcoming,” Amber said.

“I have made new friends from across the state and learned so much of what is involved in both a large-scale production and the smaller productions.”

Now in its fifth year, the performing arts event showcases the talents of Kindergarten to Year 12 public school students from across New South Wales.

The 2026 show has seen more than 400 schools and 8300 students this week take to Sydney Olympic Park’s Ken Rosewell Arena.

Students travelled from as far as Moree, Inverell, Broken Hill, Condobolin, Wagga Wagga, Lightning Ridge and Grafton to participate in the Department of Education Arts Unit event.

Pulse Alive promotes equity and inclusion by offering students of all abilities the opportunity to shine on stage and showcase their passion and talents in music, dance, visual arts and public speaking.

Students rehearsed at Sydney Olympic Park each day in anticipation for tonight’s big final performance.

The Arts Unit student access and engagement advisor, Simon Kermode, said 2026 is a huge year for Pulse Alive, with a 3000 student increase on last year.

“This is the first year we’re holding the event over three nights due to the increase in participating school and students,” Mr Kermode said.

“Pulse Alive is a performing arts event designed to give any student with a passion for the performing arts the opportunity to showcase their talents on stage and give them a taste of what could be in their future.

“This structure promotes greater equity and inclusion, which is at the heart of this event,” he said.

In preparation for the big event, schools are provided with choir teaching tracks, sheet music, teaching tips and a dance choreography video package and notes.

They are also given the option to participate in face-to-face or virtual rehearsals, with the full cast coming together only on the day of the performance.

Participation in the categories of massed dance, First Nations dance ensemble and massed choir are open to all schools without audition.

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