Queensland Music Festival artistic Director Katie Noonan has selected three finalists from Mount Isa for the inaugural Songs That Made Me mentorship program and will perform with Deborah Conway in a concert in Isa.
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Songs That Me supports emerging female singer-songwriters and after submitting video entries performing two songs – an original song and a song that inspired them to become a singer-songwriter, the “song that made them” – Bianca Lugo, Cath Purcell and Lenita Woodsbey from Mount Isa are among 11 from across the state to participate in the program.
Part of QMF 2017, this opportunity will see finalists learn from some of Australia’s most celebrated female musicians including Katie Noonan, Deborah Conway, Clare Bowditch, Hannah Macklin and Leigh Carriage.
The Songs That Made Me program seeks to address the low percentage of registered female Australian musicians. Recent Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society statistics highlighted a female membership of only 21.7 per cent.
QMF Artistic Director Katie Noonan said she was a passionate advocate for female musicians.
"I am very committed to empowering and supporting female musicians. Women are currently under-represented in the music industry, and challenges are compounded in regional areas through a lack of access to resources and mentors,” Ms Noonan said.
"Songs That Made Me will help connect emerging artists in regional Queensland to established female musicians, developing vital skills that could launch new careers.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated the finalists on their selection.
"Songs That Made Me shines a light on our emerging female musicians – particularly in remote and rural areas – and offers finalists an incredible opportunity to perform in their hometowns alongside signature artists,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
"Katie’s vision of providing our community with a voice through music is inspiring. QMF is an extraordinary celebration of music bringing the best talent to our towns, cities, regions and remote centres. I encourage people to attend the Songs That Made Me regional concerts and finale show in Brisbane to show their support.”
The Songs That Made Me mentorship program will kick off in June when the finalists participate in a mentoring workshop in their hometown with Katie Noonan and music educator Leigh Carriage (28–29 June in Mount Isa). They will also receive mentoring from local talent Megan Sarmardin in Mount Isa
In July, the finalists will participate in a local masterclass with Deborah Conway, Clare Bowditch and Hannah Macklin before performing alongside these signature artists, their local mentor and an all-female rhythm section featuring Myka Wallace (drums), Jess Green (guitar) and Helen Svoboda (bass guitar) in a local concert. The concerts in Mount Isa on July 11 will also include a local choir or ensemble.
The Songs That Made Me tour will conclude with a concert at The Tivoli in Brisbane on Sunday July 16 where audiences will be treated to an all female line-up featuring Deborah Conway, Clare Bowditch, Hannah Macklin, the all-female rhythm section, Brisbane choir Cheep Trill and regional mentors Megan Sarmardin, Kristin Berardi and Hayley Marsten.
Songs That Made Me is presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council, Mount Isa City Council, Gladstone Regional Council and Mackay City Council, and supported by the Queensland Government, APRA AMCOS, Australia Council for the Arts, RODE Microphones, Glencore Mount Isa Mines and The Tivoli.
For more information and to book visit qmf.org.au.
EVENT DETAILS
EVENT: Songs That Made Me concert Mount Isa
DATE: Tuesday July 11
TIME: 7:30pm
VENUE: Mount Isa Civic Centre
TICKETS: Free, bookings essential
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
