Back in 2016, Katie Noonan and members of Sunshine Coast Band Of Frequencies had an idea to start a rock school for young musicians in Eumundi – where Katie lives.
Now in its sixth year, Eumundi School Of Rock offers scholarships to talented and dedicated young musos from grades 3-8 as well as a teenage super band for older students.Ahead of their annual concert (which just sold out earlier this week), which this year features special guest Wolfmother's Andrew Stockdale who'll perform with the students, we catch up with Katie for a quick chat.
You began the school 5-6 years ago; how has it grown since those initial stages and are there plans for further expansions of the programme, maybe a bigger intake of students?
We have recently incorporated a new teenage super band for our older students.
For our first five years we were focused on young kids aged grade 3-8, but now we have a programme for teenagers aged 13-17, for more advanced young peeps and with more of a focus on writing their own original repertoire.
Last year's teenage band The Feral Cats Of Tokyo featured five ESOR alumni and they have been writing some amazing songs with their mentor, Zac Hurren, and been performing at various events across SE QLD. We are very excited to hear the new teenage band this year as each year things just keep on getting better and better.
I just ran into one of the kids from our very first year, guitarist Zach Hughes, at the Qld Conservatorium the other day as he prepares for his audition for uni next year.
I can imagine competition to be accepted would be quite fierce; what is the process to become a student?
It is open to anyone in our catchment area – basically if you can get to Eumundi by 3.30pm you can audition for a spot. Each year we get more and more kids, so the quality is improving all the time.
That means more competition, but we also limit the free scholarships to two years max, so that we ensure more kids get the opportunity to be a part of our awesome programme.
Aside from the practical experience the students receive, the theory side and one-on-one lessons the kids receive must be priceless for their own development?
The pace at which the kids improve is truly extraordinary and it is a delight to see them come out of their shells and finally strut their stuff at our epic end of term concert each year.
Music is such an important tool for young people's development – for their left and right brain functionality, their mental health and overall sense of self-worth. Some of these kids have made friends for life through this programme and that makes me immensely happy.
We have kids from all walks of life: home schooled, public schooled, private schooled, Steiner schooled, from big families, single children from single parent families and from wealthy to not wealthy. Music really is the great equaliser and maker of friends.
What's the best part of being involved with the Eumundi School Of Rock?
Watching young people bravely conquer their fears and play and sing from their hearts and HAVE FUN! More than ever, young people need to have fun, feel safe and have a sense of hope for their future; and music is a really tangible way to do all of that.
The success stories so far; The Feral Cats Of Tokyo are beginning to make waves of their own – it must be so rewarding to see these young people grow as musicians and flourish by themselves?
I am like some uber proud, clucky aunty! All the teachers are so wonderful with our kids – so encouraging and supportive and the kids are very lucky to be taught by some of the very best musos in the business.
Watching our rockers own their strength with pride is a wonderful gift for us all – teachers and parents alike.
Andrew Stockdale will be a special guest as part of this year's annual concert at the end of August; that's a major addition to the programme – the kids must be ecstatic with that news?
They are BEYOND excited! A true international superstar coming to our tiny town to play with our kids – woohoo!
What role will Andrew have; simply performing or will he also assist with any sessions or workshops with the students?
He will be performing WITH the kids. We will have some rad versions of some Wolfmother tunes with our teenage super band and then an EPIC version of 'The Joker And The Thief' (one of our audition songs) with 26 kids and Andrew on the stage.
COVID has obviously thrown up all sorts of obstacles and issues we've had to deal with; has there being any knock-on effects to the school, the way students interact with classes/ teachers?
We moved to home/ studio teaching last year as were not able to access the local state school and then thankfully we were able to access the local pub for socially distanced band rehearsals.
We have decided to stick with that model moving forward, as a pub is way cooler than a school room anyway, and it gives the kids a chance to rehearse on a stage and feel more gig ready for the big gig.
Looking ahead to the 2022 class; how do young musicians get involved?
Just keep an eye on our Facebook page. We give plenty of notice for our audition each year and they are always around April/ May. We always focus on 100 per cent Aussie tunes, but you can always play one of your own tunes or a fave cover also.
Eumundi School Of Rock's annual concert (sold out) takes place as part of Horizon Festival at Eumundi School Of Arts (Sunshine Coast) 29 August.
