Top Class

About Top Class

Top Class presents concerts by outstanding performing arts students who have completed VCE Dance, Drama, Theatre Studies, Music Composition, Music Contemporary Performance, Music Inquiry and Music Repertoire Performance, and VCE VET Dance, Music (Performance) and Music (Sound Production).

Top Class Regional

In 2025, Top Class concerts toured Traralgon and Bendigo. Through the Top Class Regional concerts, the VCAA aims to increase community engagement and arts education opportunities within regional and rural Victorian schools by removing the barrier of travel to metropolitan Melbourne.

The concerts feature a program of performers from the Season’s metropolitan Top Class Dance, Drama, Theatre Studies, Music and Sound concerts, and are emceed by a VCE curriculum expert. Following each concert is a free Q&A session with performers from each performance area and a curriculum expert. 

This is an opportunity for students and teachers to ask all about performers’ creative process experience preparing for and undertaking their VCE examinations.

Apply now for Top Class Sound 2026

The Top Class (Sound) 2026 online application form is linked below. Students enrolled in Units 3 and 4 of any of the following studies are eligible to apply:

  • Music Contemporary Performance
  • Music Repertoire Performance
  • VCE VET Music (Performance)
  • VCE VET Music (Sound Production)

Students undertaking VCE Music Composition and Music Inquiry do not need to apply as works will be selected from A or A+ Externally-assessed Task.

For further information on how to apply, refer to the selection process and guidelines for selected works below.

To save and return to your form later, click 'save & return later' at the bottom of the page and you will receive an access code to complete your application in multiple sessions.

Applications close 11:59 pm Monday 10 November 2025.

Top Class (Sound) 2026 Application Form

If you have access requirements that mean completing a registration form or application in another format would work best, please get in touch with us prior to the deadline to discuss.

Email seasonofexcellence@education.vic.gov.au

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Top Class performers are selected from students that have achieved an A or an A+ on their VCE performance examination or Externally-assessed Task.

During the selection process, students are identified only by their VCAA student number to remove bias in the selection process. Every effort is made to equally represent school sectors during the selection process and within the Top Class concerts.

Top Class Dance, Drama and Theatre Studies

VCE Drama, Theatre Studies, Dance and VCE VET Dance students are invited to audition for Top Class based on their performance examination score. Invitations to audition will be sent in mid-December 2025. Auditions will be held in January 2026.

Top Class Music

VCE Music Repertoire Performance, Music Contemporary Performance, and Music Inquiry, and VCE VET Music (Performance), and Music (Sound Production) students are selected from recordings of their end of year performance examination. Students will be notified of their selection in January 2026.

Top Class Sound

VCE Music Composition and VCE Music Inquiry students are selected from original compositions that received an A or A+ on the Externally-assessed Task. VCE Music Contemporary Performance, VCE Music Repertoire Performance, and VCE VET Music (Performance) and Music (Sound Production) students who created or performed an original composition for a graded assessment task in 2025 may submit an application for selection.

A selection panel will review and shortlist all eligible exam recordings and applications. The VCAA will contact shortlisted students to confirm a high-quality recording or live performance of an appropriate standard can be organised for Top Class Music and Sound in March 2026. All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by late-December 2025.

Top Class Sound Selection Criteria

Applicants must be enrolled in Units 3 and 4 of any of the following studies:

  • VCE Music Composition
  • VCE Music Inquiry
  • VCE Music Contemporary Performance
  • VCE Music Repertoire Performance
  • VCE VET Music (Performance)
  • VCE VET Music (Sound Production)

Selected works must:

  • be an original composition created or performed for a graded assessment task in 2025
  • be able to be presented in concert at an appropriate standard, either as a live performance or high-quality recording
  • include copyright clearance if they include third-party content

Optional:

  • prerecorded material and/or sound effects may be used with live performance

Select Top Class concert recordings from 2021-2023 are available as free resources for schools. Please note, recordings are not available for 2024 Top Class concerts. To access available videos, please email seasonofexcellence@education.vic.gov.au and specify which resources you would like from the below:

Top Class Dance

  • Top Class Dance 2021 - Program 1 & 2 (VCE Dance and VCE VET Dance)
  • Top Class Dance 2022 - Program 1 & 2 (VCE Dance and VCE VET Dance)

Top Class Drama and Theatre Studies

  • Top Class Drama 2021 (Program 1 & 2) and 2023 (Program 1, 2 & 3) (VCE Drama)
  • Top Class Theatre Studies 2021 (Program 1 & 2) and 2023 (Program 1, 2 & 3) (VCE Theatre Studies)

Top Class Music and Top Class Sound

  • Top Class Music 2021 - Program 1 (VCE Music Performance, VCE Music Investigation, VCE VET Music Industry (Performance) – solo and group acoustic)
  • Top Class Music 2021 - Program 2 (VCE Music Performance, VCE Music Investigation, VCE VET Music Industry (Performance) – solo and group acoustic and plugged)
  • Top Class Music 2021 - Program 3 (VCE Music Performance, VCE Music Investigation, VCE VET Music Industry (Performance) – solo and group plugged)
  • Top Class Sound 2021 - Program 1 (VCE Music Style and Composition, VCE Music Investigation)
  • Top Class Music 2022 - Program 1 (VCE Music Performance and VCE Music Investigation - solo acoustic)
  • Top Class Music 2022 - Program 2 (VCE Music Performance, VCE Music Investigation and VCE VET Music Industry (Performance) - solo and group acoustic)
  • Top Class Sound and Music 2022 - Program 3 (VCE Music Style and Composition, VCE Music Investigation and VCE VET Music Industry (Performance) original compositions, followed by VCE Music Performance, VCE Music Investigation and VCE VET Music Industry (Performance) solo and group performances)