Important Announcement: Final Year for Youth in Performing Arts (YIPA)
After much thought and careful consideration, a decision has been made to bring the Youth in Performing Arts (YIPA) program to a close. The 2025 season marked the final year of this iconic Central Coast initiative.
YIPA was established in 1992 by the West Gosford Rotary Club as a youth-focused program, with the concept originally developed by Graham Morris. It was brought to life through the support of Don Craig, then Director of the Laycock Street Community Theatre. The inaugural Director of YIPA was retired school teacher, Alf Taylor, whose dedication helped set the foundation for what would become a cherished annual tradition.
Over the past three decades, countless YIPA volunteers have conducted tens of thousands of auditions, all in the service of showcasing the incredible talent of our region’s young performers through a series of annual variety concerts.
The passion, energy, and creativity of the Coast’s youth have been at the heart of YIPA. Many past performers have gone on to successful careers in the performing arts — a testament to the power and impact of this program.
The YIPA Committee would like to extend heartfelt thanks to:
- All the young performers who have been involved in YIPA over the years;
- The school, drama, dance, and music teachers who nurtured their talents and encouraged participation;
- The parents and families who supported their children’s creative journeys;
- Local businesses, community groups, and individuals who generously contributed scholarships and encouragement awards;
- And most especially, the incredible volunteers who have dedicated their time, energy, and passion to the program.
YIPA has been a labour of love, a community achievement, and a beacon for youth creativity on the Central Coast. While 2025 will be the final chapter, the legacy of YIPA will live on in the hearts, memories, and careers of those it touched.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
— The YIPA Committee
The 2025 Youth In Performing Arts Presentation Night was held on 17th July at the Red Tree Theatre, Tuggerah.
A total of 19 awards were presented to some of the performers from YIPA 2925.
The Encouragement Award recipients were:
The Donnelly Family Encouragement Award Larna Duddy
Harpers Music Encouragement Award Noah Gentle
Erina Fair – Lend Lease Encouragement Award Mia Hart
Woy Woy Little Theatre Encouragement Award Georgia Comb
BLOCH Australia Encouragement Award Cleo McNeill
The Scholarship recipients were:
Erina Fair – Lend Lease Scholarship Annabelle Capper
Erina Fair – Lend Lease Scholarship Blake Paulley
Brisbane Water Rotary Scholarship Scarlett Reid
Coast Academy of Music Scholarship Angus Healey
The Booth Family Scholarship Anna McAweaney
Rotary Club of Gosford Scholarship Megan Hansard
Gosford Musical Society ‘Alf Taylor Memorial’ Scholarship Matilda Whitwell
Bev Barendse Scholarship Emma King
Gosford North Rotary Club ‘Bob Pye Memorial’ Scholarship Bailey Pierce
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Ruby Gardiner
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Bonnie Brown
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Maggie Smith
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Katie Hallett
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Elana Sydenham
Congratulations to all of the 2025 YIPA Award recipients.
The YIPA Committee would also like to thank our wonderful supporters who providers these award
and continue to support YIPA and young talent on the Central Coast.
————————————————————————–
Announcing the 2025 Youth In Performing Arts concerts.
Concerts are to be held at Laycock Street Community Theatre from
Wednesday 21st May to Saturday 24th May, starting at 7pm each night.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
2024 Youth In Performing Arts Scholarships and Encouragement Awards
Encouragement Awards
The Callaghan Family Encouragement Award
‘Student in a Technical Support Role’ Lachlan Herd
Dr Gordon Reid MP Encouragement Award Kai Borgman
Erina Fair / Lend Lease Encouragement Award Taya Woods
Woy Woy Little Theatre Encouragement Award Keeva Brodt-Fisher
BLOCH Australia Encouragement Award Fern Cleary
Scholarships
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Eden Hoban
Erina Fair / Lend Lease Scholarship Chloe Patch
The Swan Family ‘Marie Swam Memorial’ Scholarship Charlotte Page
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Kani Lukuta
White Fig Style Scholarship Eden Steinhardt
The Callaghan Family Scholarship Sarah Harrington
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Jerome Drobot
Coast Academy of Music Scholarship Thomas Schramm
Youth In Performing Arts Scholarship Isabelle Ince
Gosford Musical Society ‘Alf Taylor Memorial’ Fergus Paterson
Booth Family Scholarship Georgia O’Keeffe
North Gosford Rotary ‘Bob Lye Memorial’ Scholarship Luke Johnston
Erina Fair / Lend Lease Scholarship Lily Tisdell
Bev Barendse – Coast Realty Scholarship Erin Hobden
Rotary Brisbane Water Scholarship Elliot Wyer
Youth In Performing Arts Director’s Award Macyn Van Borssum
———————————————————————————————————————————————–
Here are the 2024 Youth In Performing Arts Programs.
Congratulations to everyone that auditioned. Selecting this year’s programs was very hard.
Performers who have been selected to perform will receive an email in the coming days with further information
about the YIPA concerts, rehearsals and scholarship opportunities.
1. 2024 YIPA PROGRAM WEDNESDAY
————————————————————————————————
Things you need to know about Youth In Performing Arts auditions.
- Audition / performance items are generally limited to 5 mins or less.
- That is 5 mins per item.
- If you need more than 5 mins, please talk to us about your item prior to the audition.
- For Vocal items, backing vocals are not permitted on your backing track.
- If you are auditioning two items, try not to audition two items of the same genre.
- i.e. in vocals, try not to audition two musical theatre songs.
- Performers are limited to two audition items in one genre.
- Performers are allowed to audition in different sections/genres.
- A performer can audition for Dance and Vocal.
- A dancer / singer can audition a solo, duet & group items.
- For your audition, we would like to see you perform your item as if you were on the stage at the theatre. Show us how you can perform! And have fun!!
- At the weekend auditions, if you are using a musical instrument for your audition, you will need to bring along exactly what you need.
- We do have microphones and an acoustic guitar amp available but nothing else.
-
- NOTE: the piano at Valley View School is not available this year.
- You may use another person to accompany you for your audition, i.e. someone to play an instrument for you. They may be an adult as long as they only play that instrument and nothing else.
- Make sure you turn up prior to your audition time and give yourself time to warm up properly.
- For the actual audition, there will be a panel of YIPA team members who will watch your audition and whenever possible, provide you with some feedback on your audition.
- In most situations auditions will be video recorded. This video is to assist the YIPA team in their decision making process.
- It is not essential to wear a costume for your audition.
- For Bands, rather than transporting all of your equipment to an audition and performing one or two songs, we suggest that you submit a video.
- Please don’t attend the auditions if you are unwell. Let us know in advance and we will try and make some other arrangements for your audition.