For the next three weeks, 5,000 individual performances and 1,500 competitors will showcase their talent at the Bathurst Entertainment Memorial Centre (BMEC) for the 72nd Bathurst Eisteddfod.
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Bathurst Eisteddfod president Roslyn King said the show has been in works for the past 11 months.
“We basically start when the last one ends,” she said.
“We take a month break and it’s back into a constant cycle.
“There is so many behind the scene volunteers. Sponsors have been busy and co-coordinators have been hard at work sourcing quality adjudicators for the three disciplines.
“Over the course of three weeks, there’ll be 5,000 individual performances.”
Entries will students from Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Sydney, Central Coast, South Coast and Canberra.
Ms King started volunteering at the eisteddfod over 15 years ago.
“I enjoy it so much,” she said.
“I started when my children were young around 15 to 20 years ago. I’ve been the dance coordinator for the past five years and the president for the past two.
“The talent I’ve seen never ceases to amaze me. We’ve seen people at the eisteddfod go on to world shows.
“It’s always exciting and I never get tired of the talent going around. It never ceases to amaze me how confident performers are to get up on stage.”
Ainsley Melham is just one of talents Ms King has seen perform at the eisteddfod, to go onto new heights.
He started off tap dancing at the Bathurst Eisteddfod, before being cast as the title role for Disney Theatrical Company’s production of Aladdin.
Performances begin on Saturday, at 8.30am, and run to as late as 10pm on the day.
Three sessions are held – morning, afternoon and night – over 50 volunteers are needed to cover three sessions a day.
“We can always do with more volunteers,” Ms King said.
“You can walk in off the street and no experience is needed.”
Performances will be concluded on September 15, Friday, with the Bathurst Eisteddfod grand concert at 7pm.
“This will see the best of the best performers, recommended by adjudicators,” Ms King said.
Eight adjudicators will make the trip to the Bathurst, traveling from across NSW and Queensland.
For further information, visit the Facebook page or the website at www.bathursteisteddfod.org.
