MUSIC swept through the streets in Lismore yesterday as students from Dunoon Public School took to their marimbas in Magellan Street.

Students performed as part of the Lismore Musical Festival Eisteddfod in the morning before heading to the street in the hope of raising funds for their trip to the Sydney Opera House this weekend.

Mel Hargraves, of Lismore, and owner of Sum1s clothing shop, was attracted by the sound of the marimbas.

“I just heard them playing so I came down. The fact that it’s children, that’s great,” she said.

Rachael Bertuzzi, teacher of the K1s and mother of performers Jazmin, 9, and 11-year-old Liam, said the children “gain self-confidence and self worth from performing”.

“Hearing each other and keeping the beat is really important, so it’s good for that musical element as well,” she said.

While 58 students are involved with the marimba group, only 30 of those performed yesterday.

Kevin Warid, 12, has been involved for two years and says the best part about performing was the ‘travelling’.

“I went to the Entertainment Centre [in Sydney] last year. The best part was watching the show and going to Luna Park,” he said.

Mrs Bertuzzi said the program is “good for country kids, giving them the chance to see the city”.

The marimbas are made by some of the students’ grandparents from plastic pipes.

Students head to the Opera House this weekend, with a performance on Tuesday at The Endeavour concert.

Marimba tutor, Genevieve Slocombe, conducted the students’ performance in Magellan Street.

Mrs Slocombe was part of an ensemble at a previous school before getting the Dunoon students involved five years ago.