End of Year Showcase
Join us as our students take to the stage to share their talent, passion and hard work from another wonderful year of music and theatre
Showcase 2026 raised $2,870 for Parkes Can Assist and Parkes Breast Care Nursing
Location
All concerts are held at The Little Theatre, Bogan Street Parkes
Live on Stage
A professional theatre experience for our amazing performers
All Ages
Featuring students from Early Childhood Music to Adults
Music and Theatre
Performances from our music, singing and drama students
One Day Only
2027 Showcase Dates to be confirmed early next year
Showcase 2026
Thankyou for everyone who made this day amazing
The success of our 2026 Musica Arioso Showcase would not have been possible without the generosity, dedication, and encouragement of so many wonderful people. We extend our sincere thanks to all of our sponsors for their valued support, our volunteers for giving so freely of their time and energy, and the many parents, families, friends, and supporters who worked behind the scenes to help bring this event to life. Your commitment, enthusiasm, and belief in our students and performers have made this showcase a truly memorable celebration of music, theatre, dance, and creativity. We are deeply grateful for your contribution and support.
With Grateful Thanks
Together we make the performing arts brighter
We gratefully acknowledge the businesses, organisations and individuals whose generosity and support helped make our 2026 Showcase possible.
• Parkes & Forbes McDonald's
• Central West Credit Union Parkes
• Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society
• Parkes Regional Business Supplies
• Mackenzie L'Maree
• Bunnings Forbes
• Lander's Music Orange
• Flemings Parkes
• Sew & Go Parkes
• Mitre 10 Parkes
• Odeon 5 Theatre Orange
• Orange Ten Pin Bowl
• Australia Post Parkes
• La Bella Medispa Parkes
• Betta Electrical Parkes
• Black Ridge Restaurant Forbes
• Roasted Combi Parkes
Your support helps our students grow in confidence, creativity and a lifelong love of music and theatre. Thank you for being part of the Musica Arioso community.
My Cancer Journey
Why This Showcase Means So Much to Me
My breast cancer story began, of all places, over a coffee with two girlfriends. We were chatting about our theatre car park being used by both the BreastScreen van and the blood donation van when I casually said, “I can't remember the last time I had a breast screen.” That one comment started a whole new conversation. With the Christmas holidays coming up, my girlfriends kept reminding me to make the appointment — so eventually I did.
At the time, I felt fine. I had no lump and no symptoms that made me think something was wrong. I had been experiencing hot flushes, but having already been through menopause, I certainly didn't connect those with breast cancer. I travelled to Orange for my screening, had the scan and promptly got on with life. About two weeks later, a letter arrived asking me to come back because the results were inconclusive. The letter reassured me that this sometimes happens, but also suggested I might like to bring someone with me — which was perhaps a gentle way of saying, just in case the news isn't what we're hoping for.
I went back, and from that point things moved very quickly. What was initially thought to be a 10 cm mass in my left breast was ultimately found to be approximately 15 cm, with cancer also involving lymph nodes under my left arm. Within 30 days I underwent a double mastectomy and the removal of 14 lymph nodes. Then came chemotherapy, radiation, medications, infusions, appointments, scans and all the other things that suddenly become part of your life when you hear the words “you have cancer.”
Now, more than two years later, I'm ready to take back control of my life and concentrate on doing what I love — teaching music and giving others the opportunity to perform. But I will always be grateful to those two girlfriends who wouldn't let my casual comment disappear with the coffee cups. I felt fine. I didn't think I had breast cancer. I went for a breast screen because my friends encouraged me to go.
And that is why the awareness side of this Showcase matters so much to me.
It really does take a Village
Cancer also taught me just how extraordinary our local community is.
Parkes Can Assist was incredible. They helped pay for medications, assisted with travel costs for treatment and were always there when I simply needed someone to talk to. Our Breast Care Nurse and her team were equally amazing — checking in throughout treatment, following up afterwards and being there during video conferences with my oncologist so that, if I didn't quite take everything in at the time, there was someone who could help me understand it later. Then there were so many others: Georgie's Pantry helping with food, our local pharmacy providing frozen meals, Parkes Neighbourhood Central assisting with community transport, and countless other people who quietly stepped in when they were needed. And, of course, there were my family, my friends and particularly my wonderful theatre community, who surrounded me throughout it all.
One of the biggest lessons cancer taught me was to put my pride aside and accept help when it was offered. That's not always easy, but I discovered that allowing someone to help you is sometimes a gift to them as well.
So this Showcase is personal.
Yes, it's about our students. It's about music, performance, professional lights, sound, costumes, nerves, applause and seeing people grow in confidence when they step onto that stage. But it's also my opportunity to give something back to the community that gave so much to me. And if sharing my story prompts just one person to think, “Actually, I haven't checked lately…” and do something about it, then sharing it has been worthwhile.
I am incredibly grateful to still be here, doing what I love. 💗
So please — know your body, check your boobs, have your recommended screenings, and if something doesn't seem right, get it checked. Even if you feel perfectly fine.
CHECK YOUR BOOBS
Breast Cancer — Know Your Body
Breast cancer touches far too many Australian families. More than 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and around 3,300 people die from the disease annually. For women, the lifetime risk is approximately 1 in 8 by age 85, but advances in detection and treatment mean five-year survival has risen to around 93%.
And breast cancer is not just a women's disease. Around 200 Australian men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and approximately 30 men die from it. Men can develop the same disease and should also pay attention to changes such as a new lump, changes around the nipple, discharge or changes to the skin. Whoever you are, know what is normal for your body, and if you notice a change, get it checked. A few minutes of awareness could make an enormous difference.
SHOWCASE
Fundraiser
Breast awareness and early detection matter. We want to use our Showcase not only to entertain, but to start conversations, encourage people to know what is normal for their bodies and remind everyone that if something doesn't feel right — get it checked.
All profits from these showcases will go to
Thank you for supporting a great cause!
Our Showcase 2026 Guest Artists
Our annual Musica Arioso Showcase gives our clients the opportunity to step onto a real theatre stage and experience performing with professional lighting and sound, in front of family, friends and our local community.
Thank you to our amazing guest artists for 2026
Lexie Herden & Oscar Hendry
We are delighted to welcome talented local duo Lexie Herden and Oscar Hendry to our 10 am Showcase. Lexie and Oscar recently performed together at Street Dreams in Forbes, and both are exciting young musicians to watch.
Lexie has been involved in the Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society's upcoming Iconic concert, celebrating an incredible 75 years of local theatre. She has also been nominated in the Next Up Music Awards for an impressive four awards:
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Song of the Year • Songwriter of the Year • Artist of the Year (Secondary) • Future Outlook
Oscar is certainly no stranger to the stage either. He got together with Lexi to write a song and they completed it in their very first session. Their second session they polished it. It hasn’t been recorded yet but watch out for when it is “Nostalgic Sky”. They hope to write more songs together in the future… Oscar's guitar skills, musicianship and showmanship are well beyond his years.
Lexi Herden - Visit Lexie's Instagram
Dane Hendry - 0447 244 207
H2O — Harrison Rowbotham, Harry Smede and Oscar Hendry
Sometimes a band comes together after months of careful planning... and sometimes you throw two Harrys and an Oscar together for Mundi Mundi and see what happens.
Oscar and Harry met through the local musical and dramatic society, Oscar has been working with another talented performer, Lexi Herden, who together have written their own songs. Harrison has been learning singing for almost 8 yrs now and started some piano a little over 18 months ago. Harrison can be seen busking each year at our Elvis Festival and has even won the busking competition getting to perform on the main stage with the festival band.
The boys formed rather quickly for Mundi Mundi 2026, entered Mundi's Got Talent… and promptly walked away with FIRST PRIZE! 🏆 Not bad for a newly formed local group!
Gracey Denham-Jones
Gracey Denham-Jones is a former Musica Arioso student who studied with us for eight years, and we're incredibly excited to welcome her back to our stage — this time as an emerging Australian country music artist.
Gracey has recently released her second single, Glitter in the Glovebox and can regularly be seen performing, including appearances as a guest artist for Amber Lawrence. She also took out the title of Miss Priscilla at the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival and will return to the Festival in 2027 to perform her very own concert.
Gracey will make appearances at all three Musica Arioso Showcase sessions, but our 4 pm audience gets something extra special — Gracey's main performance with her band. You can find Gracey's music on Spotify, Apple Music and other major music platforms.
Look her up — you'll be glad you did. 🎶