Director Stacey Brennan said the show was different to what they had ever done before.

“To see nearly the whole place booked out was amazing,” she said. “We were pleased with how it went – there were only a few hiccups.”

The concert is a tribute to the late Richard Morris, a keen supporter of performing arts in the Wimmera.

Ms Brennan said the show ended with all performers and the audience singing Over the Rainbow together.

“Everyone was engaged and it was great to have that audience interaction,” she said.

The concert also included a $1000 scholarship to assist a Wimmera person in their performing arts dream.

This was awarded to Horsham’s Joel Kimberly, who hopes to use the scholarship to pursue musical theatre full time

Joel said he performed a few numbers at the concert, including a duet with the show’s director Stacey Brennan.

He also performed as part of Horsham College’s Hairspray production and sang Over the Rainbow with others at the end of the concert.

“I wanted to perform as it is such as amazing concert with so many talent people performing in it,” he said.

“The concert is to honour Richard Morris and his passion for the performing arts, so it's a wonderful event for different performers to come together and showcase their talents.”

Joel said when his name was announced as the scholarship winner he was overwhelmed and grateful.

“All the work I had put into writing the application and performing really paid off,” he said.

“I will be using my scholarship to pay for my singing lessons and dance lessons for 2017, as well as to pay for my Horsham Arts Council membership and to attend master classes put on by Victorian College of the Arts.

“This will assist me gain more skills and knowledge in preparation for auditions for theatre courses that I intend to apply for next year.”

Joel finished year 12 this year and plans on having a gap year in 2017.

“I want to apply for musical theatre courses for the following year,” he said. 

The annual concert featured more than 20 acts, including singing, dancing, acting and music. 

Ms Brennan said Joel was a worthy winner.

“He is very talented and it’s great to see him doing what he loves,” she said.