FAQs

The RAC Certificate of Currency is sent to schools in July/August each year, when their information is updated and renewed. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT RAC ARENA.

Students will use the main entrance into the venue. The lighting panels above each door show teachers where their choir should line up to enter. The names of each choir will be displayed in lights – Choir A, Choir B and Choir C.

To ensure a smooth and safe departure process, designated exits will be assigned for each choir. Parents are requested to meet their children in the allocated areas. RAC Arena Security will be on hand to assist with this process. Exit Waves will be displayed on the screen and announced over the sound system, informing parents when and where to meet their child.

Parents who do not attend the concert will be able to enter the RAC Arena after the concert finishes and collect their child from the designated area.

No, it will be a closed rehearsal. No members of the public will be able to view the rehearsal.

Toilets are in abundance at RAC Arena. However, we will require Choir helpers to supervise students from their school when going to the toilet area. Schools are asked to limit the number of students leaving from their choir to 5 students at any one time, to ensure the area is not over crowded.

Students are only to return to their groups during breaks to avoid interruptions when students are singing.

This process is discussed in the Workshops.

• Matinee performance – Students will come to RAC Arena and return home again by bus or train [within walking distance of RAC Arena]. Please note that in 2025 train travel is free for OBV students.
• Evening performance – Students will come to RAC Arena by bus or train.  Parents/Carers are responsible for collecting their child/ren for the return journey home. Please remind parents that bus and train fare is included with their performance ticket.
• Country schools – This procedure may be different for students from country schools who are making the journey on school buses.

Attendance at Workshop 1 (Term 1) on a Saturday is a compulsory part of your school’s participation in One Big Voice. We offer a south and north option for teachers.

Teachers must also attend Workshop in Term 2 and this requires a half day relief as it is 12.30-3.30pm. This Workshop is at a more central location.

A third, optional, Workshop is offered over Zoom, closer to the concert.

We understand how busy teachers are and for this reason we have reduced the number of compulsory workshops to two.  Regular newsletters are sent to all teachers with updated information and our website is also kept up to date.  Closer to the concert, a Zoom meeting is offered to address any questions.

Yes, with so many students and adults at this event, we are extremely safety conscious. We will provide these to the teachers and the helpers accompanying each choir. Without an identification lanyard, RAC Arena security will not allow any person onto the performance floor.

After the rehearsal, only the Teacher and ONE other adult may remain in the bowl. All other helpers, including EAs. move to a paid or spare seat for the concert and can be contacted by the Teacher if needed.

Am I able to help with conducting?

Yes, anyone can sign up to help with conducting for the concert. You must attend the Workshops in order to conduct at OBV.

Which songs should I conduct?

Please only offer to conduct songs that you are extremely confident in doing so.

What do I need to know about conducting?

If the song has choreography in it, you are required to do the actions on the day/night as well. 

If you are conducting a particular song, please take note of all aspects: – choreography, dynamics, tempo and lyrics.

How do I go about selecting which songs I would like to conduct?

If you are confident in conducting a song, you can indicate which song/s you are comfortable to conduct, at Workshop 2.

How do I learn to conduct the choreography from the teacher perspective?

If you choose to conduct a song with choreography in it, you need to learn the movements using ‘teacher left’ ie as if you are the person on the videos – the children mirror you as they have been mirroring the videos throughout their learning process.

All conductors and helpers need to wear all black clothing; this prevents any distraction from the students.   We’d love it if Music Teachers could wear their black One Big Voice T-shirt for the performance, although this isn’t compulsory. These will be available for purchase at the workshops or through the website.

How do I teach the choreography?

You simply play the videos to the students and they can learn from there! There are two videos for each song – one is a ‘step by step’ instructional video, and the other is for students to mirror. This is a stress free part of the concert preparation.

Which part do my students have to learn?

Please check that your students are viewing the correct part for that song (pink/purple).

When do I teach the choreography?

Teach the choreography when you feel comfortable.  For some songs, we teach the choreography as we teach the song.  For those songs that require more concentration on melody/harmony, it is probably better to teach the choreography when they have mastered the notation.

Do I have to do the choreography if I am conducting on the day/night?

Yes definitely! The students need the conductor to do all the choreography for each song.

We are inclusive of all students. We ask that you notify us as soon as practical by email at obvadmin@onebigvoice.com.au about any specific student needs. We will discuss this at the workshops but please do not leave this information until the last minute. This could impact on the placement of a choir on the performance floor.

Yes. You must also bring any medical action plans and specific medication for individual students. RAC Arena staff have access to some first aid, but this will be limited.

These students will be looked after by their own school helpers.

e.g. asthma, severe allergies, epilepsy, diabetes.

RAC Arena is a prestigious venue, so we know all teachers will ensure students look smart. We recommend students wear their choir/school uniform shirts.

The rehearsal for both Matinee and Evening concerts will run for just over one hour.  A small meal could be eaten before arriving at the venue.  There will be a break during the rehearsal which will allow students to have a small snack such as a muesli bar/sandwich. Please do not bring messy foods such as popcorn. Students are encouraged to bring a small disposable water bottle with them.  These are collected after the rehearsal.

Schools should be aware of nut and shellfish allergies and limit or not bring these foods. Please DO NOT order hot pizzas.  This creates a lot of rubbish and the residual smell is very unpleasant.

No. This is a duty of care issue unless it is a medical condition.

Assist with students as required; supervision of students in their choir lines, ensuring only 5 students go to the toilets at one time, cleaning water spills, assisting with first aid, etc.

Helpers will need to escort Soloist/Vocal Group/Compere students to the stage area at the specified time before their part. This will be indicated at the Final Rehearsal in August and during the rehearsal at RAC Arena.

Tickets will be on sale from Ticketek in June, July and August.

We publish a floor plan showing where each school is to be positioned, assisting patrons to purchase tickets with the best view of their child.  It is available on the Ticketek website.  the floor plan is also provided to teachers.

Please note that purchasing tickets in the general vicinity should give a good view.

Premium seats will be available.

We are able to offer a small number subsidised tickets. Codes are given to teachers to pass on to parents who are unable to purchase full price tickets. We have a limited number of these tickets and there is a maximum of two tickets per code. Teachers need to request these codes on a needs basis.

Promo codes are available for schools to organise an excursion to the Matinee performance. These tickets are for groups of students who are not performing to attend the  concert. Please contact us should you wish to purchase  tickets.

Our video production is a professional soundtrack of all songs run consecutively, with visual footage to accompany.  Speeches and comperes will be seen but not heard in the footage.  Orders are available through the One Big Voice website. Videos will be available as a USB or download option.  This year we have additional cameras to ensure there is some footage of every single child.