YOUTH TRAD SCHOLARSHIPS A GATEWAY TO FOLK FESTIVAL
Shalani Thomas is urging aspiring folk musicians, singers and songwriters aged under 26 to apply for the Illawarra Folk Festival’s Youth Tradition Scholarship, and share the experiences that helped turn her into a seasoned folk performer.
Presented by the Illawarra Folk Club Inc, the Youth Traditions Showcase provides opportunities for young musicians to learn performance skills, collaborate and perform at the festival.
Successful scholarship applicants will receive a free day pass to the Folk School at the Northern Illawarra Uniting Church on Friday, January 16 (valued at $80) as well as a Saturday pass for the festival itself (valued at up to $110), and the chance to perform at the festival.
But best of all, they’ll have the chance to learn from a great line-up of festival artists who are conducting workshops and sessions as part of the Folk School.
Shalani is part of the Folk School organising team, along with Ann Lehmann-Kuit and Karhryn Roberts Parker, but 13 years ago she was a 10-year-old aspiring musician who came to the Folk School and won a Youth Traditions Award which gave her the chance to get up on stage at the festival’s Youth Showcase.
Within a few years Shalani was delighting audiences on the festival’s bigger stages with her trio Dear Violet, with friends Ashlee and Kiya. In recent years she has performed as a soloist, and is on the festival program again this year.
Shalani says the Folk School has up to 20 Youth Tradition Scholarships on offer, and she hopes young musicians and singers will take the opportunity to learn from the experienced performers who are conducting the Folk School sessions.
“It really is a great opportunity for people with an interest in performance to learn about performing and benefit from the collaborative sessions, where they will be playing with the other scholarship participants and preparing to perform at the Youth Traditions Showcase concert on the Saturday morning of the festival,” Shalani said. “Last year, for example, some local musicians with a band called New Calyptus took part in the Folk School through these scholarships, played in the Youth Showcase, and are now back performing at the festival this year.”
New Calyptus
Folk School organisers have put together a sensational program including two sessions by visiting Canadian-Irish band Grosse Isle, who will have one session about the songs and folklore of Ireland and Quebec, and another featuring Uileann Pipes.
Musicians from Brisbane bands Cigany Weaver and Amaidi will run sessions ranging from gypsy jazz to Irish fiddles, while Emmy Ryan’s session will focus on the revolutionary art of protest songs.
Other festival performers involved in the Folk School include Canadian Scott Cook, American Ken Hoot, the Bush Music Club, Maurie Mulheron, Nikriann, Robyn Sykes, North and Elsewhere, Mickey and Michelle, Limoncello, and Shalani Thomas.
The Folk School has 24 sessions starting at 9am and running through until 5pm on January 16. Registration for the Folk School is compulsory and is not included in your festival pass. However, you may participate in the Folk School without a festival pass.