More than 60 Sheldon College students will be among the 2008 young musicians forming the Beijing Olympic Orchestra, a rare opportunity for them to interact and perform on the world stage.

Band director and member of the Olympic Orchestra artistic team Matt Cocking said the Sheldon College contingent was put together especially for the event and would join performers from Japan and Guam to create the 400-strong green orchestra.

Other countries will form a red and gold component.

“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle. We rehearse our part of the puzzle and put it all together at our first rehearsal (on July 30). We’re pretty pumped. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Matt said.

Band rehearsals have been rigorous and have included some holiday camps and all day rehearsals. Sheldon College has made a considerable investment, purchasing instruments to the value of about $100,000.

Instruments include sousaphones (each valued at $8000), flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpet, trombone, a mellophone and distinctive red snare, tenor and bass drums and cymbals.

“We have started this now and it finishes – never. But to be quite honest, the students were invited solely because of their ability. We are riding a wave and cresting along. That’s what happens when this sort of challenge comes along,” Matt said.

Performance manager and tour coordinator Heidi Teitzel said students would benefit both musically and culturally from the experience with the trip also to include tickets to see some Olympic events and touring.

In the lead-up, the school will hold an Olympic Ring Day with students wearing colours on the oval on Friday, June 20, and open Scott Muller’s A New Voice concert at Redland Performing Arts Centre at Cleveland, on Friday, July 4. There will also be a celebration ball with a Beijing theme on Saturday, June 28.