In 2025, the Primary Schools Music Festival (PSMF), also known as the Festival of Music, made a joyful return to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Across four “Stars in the Arena” concerts, thousands of young voices, instruments and bright personalities transformed the space into something vibrant and full of possibility.
Each evening brought together a mass choir of Year 5 and 6 students, supported by their peers in the orchestra and dance ensemble. Student hosts guided the concerts with confidence and warmth, and guest performers from school music and performing arts programs added moments of inspiration that lifted the atmosphere even further. The result was a celebration of young artistry and a reminder of what happens when children are given the opportunity to shine.
The Festival itself holds a special place in the state’s cultural story. First staged in 1891 as the Thousand Voice Choir, it has evolved over more than a century into a treasured tradition passed down through generations. Families often describe the Festival as a defining childhood memory – one they now relive through the experiences of their own children and grandchildren. This intergenerational connection is part of what makes the PSMF so enduring: it is an event that belongs to the community as much as it belongs to the students on stage, with each new season shaped by the people who take part.
That spirit of belonging extends far beyond metropolitan Adelaide. Every year, students from regional towns, coastal communities and remote areas learn the same repertoire, becoming part of a shared musical journey that stretches across the state. In 2025, children from places such as Wilmington, Mount Gambier, Kimba, Kangaroo Island and Renmark rehearsed, travelled and performed with the same excitement and commitment as their peers in the city. Regional concerts throughout Terms 3 and 4 brought local communities together in celebration, offering families and schools the chance to recognise the achievements of their young people in their own hometowns.
Ultimately, what defines the Primary Schools Music Festival is not its size, but its impact. It gives young people the rare chance to stand in the spotlight, discover their voice, and feel themselves part of something bigger, brighter and deeply connected. It strengthens school communities, fosters confidence and creativity, and creates memories that last long after the final note fades.
As one of Australia’s longest-running student arts traditions, the Festival continues to shape South Australia’s musical identity – contributing to the rich, interconnected culture that underpins Adelaide’s standing as a UNESCO City of Music.