Mountain View Adventist College students Phillip Faavesi (pictured playing the guitar), Juliet Faaeteete, Natalie Mariner, Larissa Leatuavao, Hillamore Faiumu, Susana Faaeteete, Kayla Seuala and Stephanie Titania say they were overwhelmed by the experience, in which they also rubbed shoulders with a who's who of Australian and international singers.

The students, from years 9 to 12 and aged 14 to 18, are members of the Mt Druitt Samoan Seventh Day Adventist Church Choir.

They backed Guy Sebastian on the song Like It Like That.

Sebastian was nominated for six ARIA awards this year but didn't win.

"We were all very excited," Juliet Faaeteete said, and Natalie Mariner said everyone at the school was "still buzzing".

Stephanie Titania said: "'We would love to do it again."

Pastor Rams Tupe, Mountain View College's assistant chaplain, was at the Opera House with the students, of whom he said: "They shone through with professionalism after five practice sessions with the band and choreographer despite the stress of their final year exam. The organisers of the ARIAs had invited them to sing with the choir that supported Sebastian after watching them perform at the Sony Foundation's Wharf 4 Ward Cancer Fund-raising event at Sydney's Woolloomooloo Wharf last month."

After the performance the students, members of the choir and Guy Sebastian's band watched the TV broadcast replay in the Green Room of the Opera House.