Territory singers battle for music mentoring

Mark Holden & 2012 runner up Monique Chong of Alice Springs

Twenty young Territorians will sing to win three-days intensive mentoring with some of the music industry’s best when Mission Australia’s Urban Quest Semi Final gets underway at Casuarina Square on 28 June.

The young singers will perform one song to score mentoring with former Australian Idol judge Mark Holden and country singer Paul Costa, who’s latest single Big End of Town is at the top of the Australian Country Music Charts.

Holden, Costa and Music NT’s Amy Hetherington will select 10 singers from the Semi Final to take through to mentoring and the Urban Quest Finals Concert to be held under the starts at the Darwin Waterfront on 6 July.

“The talent among these young singers is really impressive,” Mission Australia’s Adrian McCann said.

“Urban Quest is really about helping young people build confidence through music and providing opportunities for aspiring singers to develop their voice and music potential. It seems to be working with a number of participants from last year, trying out again.”

Now in its third year, almost half of the Urban Quest semi finalists are from Alice Springs and Katherine.

The semi finalists include five performers from Alice Springs, including 2012 Urban Quest runner up Monique Chong, four vocalists from Katherine and sibling rivals Taylah and Brandon Folino-Driver from Darwin.

The Urban Quest Semi Final gets underway at 3pm at Casuarina Square on Friday, 28 June. The public are encouraged to attend.

“The whole community has really got behind this event, and I’d really like to thank our partners Larrakia TV and Radio, the Darwin Waterfront Corporation, Dreamedia, Casuarina Square, Music NT, Inpex, the Office of Youth Affairs, Darwin Airport Corporation and the City of Darwin.”

To follow the progress of the event visit facebook.com/MissionAust.

The 2013 Urban Quest Semi Finalists are:

Alice Springs:

•  Jenaya Allen (14 years), Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Alice Springs
• Monique Chong (11 years), Ross Park Primary School, Alice Springs
• Rita-Mae Ross (13 years), Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Alice Springs
• Micah Rothwell (18 years),Alice Springs
• Kirra Voller (19 years), Alice Outcomes, Alice Springs

Darwin:

• VJ Bumanlag (18 years), Darwin
• Tatiana Da Silva (14 years), O’Laughlin Catholic College, Darwin
• Brandon Folino-Driver (16 years), Darwin High School, Darwin
• Taylah Folino-Driver (13 years), Darwin Middle School, Darwin
• Charlotte Gittins (14 years), Dripstone Middle Collge, Darwin
• Charlee Mullins (14 years), Taminmin College, Darwin
• Alicia Ruta (15 years), Darwin High School, Darwin
• Helena Smith (16 years), NT Open Education, Darwin
• Phoebe Wear (11 years), Larrakeyah Primary School, Darwin
• Jason Woodward (17 years), Palmerston Senior College, Palmerston
• Gabrielle Wright (13 years), Kormilda College, Darwin

Katherine:

• Jasper Bowman (18 years), Katherine
• Dakota Oxenham (13 years), St Joseph’s College, Katherine
• Sarina Pech (18 years), Charles Darwin University, Katherine Rural Campus, Katherine
• Noella Turland (14 years), St Joseph’s College, Katherine