Marlborough Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

Media Release Marlborough Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

The next Hayley Westenra or Big Runga may have been uncovered at the 2011 Smokefreerockquest regional final at the Convention Centre on Saturday night. Year 10 Marlborough Girls College soloist Clara van Well cites these two singers as her inspiration and says she intends music to be a big part of her life.

Clara thinks she stood out for the judges in comparison with the metal and rock bands she was competing against.

“Also my two songs were quite different – one was jazzy and the other was more country so I guess that showed my versatility,” she says. Clara also won the Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship.

Second place went to Down to Funk, made up of Chris Swan, Thornton Church and Corban Church from Marlborough Boys’ College and Robert Riach from Queen Charlotte College. Down to Funk won the Lowdown Best Song Award and Chris Swan won the Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national final.

The top two placegetters win musical gear from NZ Rockshops and go on to compete for one of six national finalist spots in this year’s Smokefreerockquest.

Rockquest Promotions Founders and Directors Glenn Common and Pete Rainey said from here on the Marlborough finalists would have to work hard and draw on their creativity to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.

“The bands to play off at the national final in September are chosen from DVDs of their own music,” Common said. “This means they’ll need to work together as a group and develop the skills that will turn their talent into success.”

The six national finalists will be selected from a pool made up of first and second place-getters from each of the 27 regional finals, and bands from Rockshop Second Chance, an opportunity for established bands who feel they didn’t play at their best on the night. Last year’s record of 800 entrants has already been exceeded, with more entries to come as Christchurch bands have been given an extended deadline.

In term three, Smokefreerockquest and the NZ Music Commission, with funding from the Ministry of Education, will partner the regional winner with a mentor band - a band that is some years ahead and has first hand knowledge of the industry.

The national final will be held this year in the new 5000-seat Claudelands Arena in Hamilton on 17 September. The prize package is designed as a big helping hand into the music industry. It includes a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, recording time at York St Studio, 1000 single CDs produced by Forge Media, and radio and TV play of single. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award.

Other regional awards made on Saturday night.
Third place winning musical gear from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Havick, from Marlborough Boys' College and Marlborough Girls' College
Smokefree People’s Choice voted by text on the night, and the APRA Lyric Writer’s Award: Lee Stuart from Marlborough Girls' College

To find out more about Smokefreerockquest 2011, visit the official website sfrq.co.nz.

ENDS

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