Wellington School of Rock Young Songwriters Competition winners

The new ZEAL site, 103 Ghuznee St, was opened in style with the Wellington School of Rock Songwriter Competition held Saturday the 10th of April. 

A room full of talented hopefuls arrived and waited in the new ZEAL café space for the competition to begin, tuning guitars, talking happily and creating a humming like bees to honey.

Then our next generation of future rock entrepreneurs began to light up the stage. 

Beginning with the 8 – 12 year old (Tween) section featuring the brave Stephanie Brandt Partridge who sang unaccompanied like a beautiful song bird, a stunning song from second place winner Rhian Sheehans daughter Niva Sheehan with a delightful song about her dad, and late entrant Esme Goodman, placing first with a hopeful song about rainbows.  All three contestants took home a Real Groovy voucher and the winner a guitar tuner from Alistair’s Music.

Then came the 13 – 17 age (Teen) group, which featured a host of superb talent.  The up and coming song entrepenures were judged by veteran song writer Jane Mattheson with a voice like Janis Joplin and a wild guitar style to match, Adam Ring a local Alt country new wave noise rock artist, Claire Terry a strong woman with raspy bluesy soul voice and alt folk guitar style and Terry Shore, a master of pop rock.

The Teen winner was seventeen-year-old Meghan Glue who has recently been making a name for her self on the local scene with shows at various venues.  She played in bare feet and brought a down to earth vibe with well-rehearsed guitar songs carried with a Joni Mitchell flavor to her voice.  She oozes the essence of what it takes to be a renowned singer songwriter. 

Meghan took home with her from Wellington School of Rock sponsors Music Works an Interface with cuebase recording program, a live to air performance on Radio Access and will play a live spot with iconic New Zealand singer/songwriter John Hanlon when he tours with Cherry Gemstone later this year.

Second place was a tie between Ash Graham and acoustic duo James Shaw and James Beyer.  Ash presented work with a rock folk edge including intricate part variation and dynamic vocal range with a sensitivity and great story telling angle.  Vocalist James Shaw resounded with a powerful voice full of true passion accompanied by James Beyer on guitar, these two liked to keep it real singing about what is close to the heart.  Their music creates in the mind sound to accompany a road trip around New Zealand by.

The second place winners received a recording tutorial and demo from Charcoal White front man Dan Green along with live to air performances on Radio Access.  All winners will have further event opportunities and involvement in the Wellington School of Rock term program.

Our congratulations to all the participants – we look forward to seeing you next year at the School of Rock Songwriter Competition 2011!