The St Cecilia Performance Challenge for 2026 held its final day at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Sunday, August 23.
The Performance Challenge, now in its 31st year, involves more than 1000 musicians, teachers and supporters, with the instrumentalists and singers competing in grade or age sections depending on their level of achievement and experience.
The challenge is St Cecilia School of Music's flagship competitive showcase.
The participating musicians from across the state had their performances judged by a nationally renowned adjudicator on each of the four days of the event.
Photographer Paul Scambler went along to take these photos of the young musicians on stage in front of the adjudicator, Justin Chan.
The event has been a long-running favourite for audiences as well as competitors, mostly for its different styles of music it covers, including classical, contemporary, sacred and folk.
Winning performers are awarded gold and silver medals, and every performer receives a critique of their performance as well as a Certificate of Achievement.
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