The performance is held every year with hundreds of students from around the Illawarra and South East NSW.

“I hear people say they get to be someone different when they sing, but I feel like I just get to be myself,” Nyah said.

“It’s a good form of expression, you’re just in the moment when you’re singing and you’re mind is not wandering off, you’re just focused on that one thing.”

While most students at Southern Stars are in group dance and singing ensembles, Nyah is a ‘featured artist’, meaning that she performs solos and duets on the stage.

Nyah was first inspired to audition for Southern Stars when she saw the touring ensemble at her school.

“I first saw them in primary school and I really wanted to do that so it was just awesome to get into the featured artists category on my first time auditioning last year.”

In 2015, Nyah auditioned for the first time and got into the featured artist category.

She performed as one of four backup singers for one solo performer.

But this year she has moved up in the ranks and will be performing both solo and accompanied in more than eight songs.

“It’s a really good learning experience,” she said.

“They have a vocal coach, and all these different people giving me advice, it’s great.”

Her mother, Mardi Croke, said she was obviously very proud of her daughter.

“She just amazes me more and more every day with with what she is getting out of her singing,” she said.

“I never thought it would take her this far but she’s worked really hard and the school has really supported her, they’ve been wonderful in helping her develop.”

“I used to sing a bit when I was younger, but we’re not really much of a musical family, her talent just sort of came out of nowhere really.”

“I love my karaoke, but she’s definitely got more talent than her mother,” Mardi laughed.

The Southern Stars performance will be held in Wollongong at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday 26 and Saturday August 27 this year.