Canterbury Bankstown TAPs into local youth to make them stars
CANTERBURY Bankstown’s Talent Advancement Program have unearthed some of the brightest entertainers in the area, many of them going on to earn national and international fame.
The Express
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CANTERBURY Bankstown’s Talent Advancement Program have unearthed some of the brightest entertainers in the area, many of them going on to earn national and international fame.
Since TAP was launched by the Bankstown Council — supported by the Department of Education — in 2002, the program has produced several well known entertainers, including Casey Donovan, Paulini, Adam Rennie, Elise Graham, Joel Taylor, Jess Dunbar, Sabrina Mitwali and Jah Tung.
Founding member and director Wendy Tierney said she is very proud of the talented youngsters who go through their program each year.
This year’s batch will be performing at a major concert on Friday, September 14, at Bankstown Library & Knowledge Centre.
“It is tough to select between 24-30 students each year as everyone who applies has talent,” Ms Tierney said.
“Our program is aimed at those between Years 7-12 and we get 100 plus applications each year.
“We run around 8-10 workshops for them and because of this we have to limit the numbers as we have to hear all the kids perform.
“All our past students come back and help with our programs and shows that for a tiny area, here are kids who are making a living from their music.”
Dunbar took part in a recent workshop with this year’s TAP students, shortly after the release of her latest album, Songs from the Village, — with fiance Matt Price — which debuted as the number two Aussie album on the ARIA charts.
“It was very nostalgic because I remember those days in TAP like they were yesterday,” Dunbar said.
“I learnt so much from my mentors in TAP and so that’s why it was important to come back and chat to the kids, because the program really changed everything for me.
“The practical lessons I attended in TAP allowed me to launch my career and get to where I am today,” she said.
“I was a nervous little wreck as a girl and this community gave me a platform to really grow and know myself.
Mayor Khal Asfour said he was proud of TAP’s success.
“It’s fantastic to see this great program produce superstars like Jess (Dunbar) and I thank her for giving back to the community, by helping to guide the next wave of potential local superstars,” he said.
Ms Tierney runs TAP with the highly experience Helen Pain and Kerry Serbio — who have also been there from the start — and provide the guidance the youth need before they embark on their entertainment careers.
Ms Tierny’s sons Andrew and Michael Tierney are famous as members of Human Nature, who are among the longest performing acts at Las Vegas.
“I am very proud of what Andrew, Michael and the band have achieved and my sons tell me they wished TAP was around when they were starting,” said Ms Tierny, who also has a daughter Margaret.
“My husband James and I visit them regularly in Las Vegas because we have two grandchildren there now.
A girls’ and boys’ music workshop in November will be followed by auditions in December. The program is open to students of local high school.
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