Rising music stars unearthed
Schools
Gleeson College Year 12 student Tahlia Borg was on cloud nine earlier this month after winning the triple J Unearthed High competition with fellow Teenage Joans band member Cahli Blakers.
But the grounded 17 year old says it’s her organisational skills that have enabled her to juggle her passion for music with Year 12 studies and
part-time work.
“I am very organised,” Tahlia told The Southern Cross.
“I try to use my study lessons really well and complete as much work as I can at school. Year 12 this year has been good. Last year was busier with playing shows three nights a week, working in retail on weekends, school and Cert III. I just had to be really organised.”
Even on the day when she received the news of her success in Unearthed High, Tahlia had just completed a psychology trial exam and was sitting in the classroom watching a video when the surprise announcement came via Zoom.
Tears of joy streamed from Tahlia’s eyes as the confetti cannons exploded and triple j presenters Sally and Erica announced Teenage Joans as this year’s winner.
“I’m crying and I’m shaking but it’s really cool and I’m really excited,” she told Sally and Erica.
The Teenage Joans beat 1700 teen artists to take out the number one spot with their winning entry Three Leaf Clover.
The band will now be professionally recorded and produced in the triple J studios, receive professional industry advice from a senior music manager and experience mentoring sessions with professional music artists.
Tahlia said she became involved in the music scene after attending workshops at the City of Playford’s Northern Sound System where she met lots of people in the industry and started getting gigs.
Gleeson College helped her to continue this passion by allowing her to undertake a Certificate II in Music Performance and Song Writing at Music SA as part of her Stage 1 SACE studies in Year 11.
While she has applied for a Bachelor of Behaviour Science/Psychology at university, she said she’d love to have a career in music.
“We are hoping to tour once COVID-19 restrictions ease,” said Tahlia. “I also want to do some work at Northern Sound System, working with young up and coming artists, mentoring, giving advice and whatever help they may need.”
According to triple J Unearthed music director Dave Ruby Howe, Three Leaf Clover is a track that “really gets you a vision of what is ahead for the band”.
Described as a ‘garage rock band’, the Teenage Joans have played more than 60 shows and won Best Live Act in SA at the National Live Music Awards in December.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College also had three talented Year 12 music acts submit their original compositions to the triple J Unearthed High competition.
The students were Jacinta Scacchitti, Shruthika Vijayakumar and Year 12 band Lemon Jelly featuring Anike Ferreira, Emilie Oerman, Kirilly Pendergrast and Jenny Tran.
Lemon Jelly featuring Anike Ferreira, Emilie Oerman, Kirilly Pendergrast and Jenny Tran.
While not finalists this year, their impressive tracks, which formed a major assessment component of the Stage 2 Musical Explorations course at OLSH, have been receiving some great reviews.
Jacinta was also chosen to participate in the Class of Cabaret 2020 which involved spending the past six months in the company of high school performers from across the State as they were mentored by Cabaret entertainers Amelia Ryan and Michael Griffiths.
“The experience was one of the most valuable that I’ve ever had, I have learnt so much from them and from the other students,” said Jacinta.
“Despite taking a different form from past years because of COVID-19, we continued with a mix of face-to-face and online learning. The final performance was filmed in a closed set within the Festival Theatre.”
Over the past four years, five OLSH College students have been accepted into the Class of Cabaret program.
Jacinta Scacchitti
Shruthika Vijayakumar
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