Page 2 - TDP 19/20 NSW

In 2019-2020, the Talent Development Project auditioned 133 young performers from NSW Government High Schools. 85 students were selected to participate in the Audition Workshop. This was the largest intake of young performers in the history of TDP, such was the high standard on display. Of these 85 students, 44 proceeded into Phase One, 19 into Phase Two, and undaunted by the pandemic we graduated 11 students at the end of Phase Three.
The 2020 graduates consisted of eight solo performers and a band of three known as Cosmix. Throughout the year, students were given monthly tasks and artistic challenges to inspire and motivate their creativity and performance skills. These tasks included; collaborative songwriting; constant solo performances; subverting and reinventing classic pop songs into other genres; writing songs based on modern art works; writing anthems based on their own values; marketing and performing a pop up cabaret in their own community; and writing and performing fifteen minute musicals.
Workshops were often attended by industry professionals who worked with and mentored the students. These consultants included Kaye Tuckerman, Jason Langley, Cyrus, David Malek, Emma Pask, Brent ‘Quincy’ Buchanan (Universal Music), Bec Caruana, Sharon Millerchip, Felicity Jurd, Louise Perryman, Martin Crewes, Katie O’Hagan (Sony Music), Marion Rouvas (Voiceology), Felicity Urquhart, Charlton Hill & Justin Shave (Uncanny Valley), Paul Mitchell (The Human Enterprise) Michael Kerker (ASCAP, USA) Brian Reyes (ASCAP, USA), Lucy Durack and Francine Bell.
Students also participated in sessions on vocal health, mental health, legal and business acumen, social media and marketing, acting and movement, the art of introducing songs, and vocal technique.
In the final phase of the program, each graduate was provided with tailored, extra one-on-one skills training sessions from specifically chosen mentors. These sessions included voice technique, instrumental technique, songwriting, acting and recording, film techniques and Logic music programming.