Aspiring musicians have the chance to win a scholarship on Australia Day.
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Nine Milton-Ulladulla youth acts will take to the stage on January 26 in an effort to win The Times Music Scholarship, worth $2000.
One of the performances will be by brother and sister duo Megan and Riley White, who sing and play guitar together. Megan said they had been practicing hard for the competition final and had prepared a few acoustic songs to play.
“We have been singing together for years,” she said.
"I am 18 and Riley is 14. We are quiet close and work really well together.
“We are very excited and just want to have as good time. We both love performing and want to go up there and enjoy the experience.”
If they won, they would purchase new gear.
Meanwhile, guitar player and singer Jack Richards is planning to rock the day away with an ACDC medley, as well as other songs, in the finals.
“I am excited. I am looking to play songs people will sing along to,” he said.
“Rock n Roll is my favorite type of music to play. I might play Eagle Rock by Daddy Cool and a song by Stevie Ray Vaughan as well as the medley.”
Jack said he would purchase new guitar if he was to win the competition.
“I want to study music, build guitars and travel around the world playing music in a band,” he said.
Band LXV are also finalists vying for the scholarship. Drummer Cooper Treeweeke said the band was excited about performing in front of a crowd.
“It is quite exciting. From starting two years ago to now, where we are performing for a scholarship, it is awesome,” he said. “We are practicing before the big day but haven’t decided on the final song list yet.”
Cooper has been learning the drums since he was eight with the help of teacher Hayden Moore.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Ashton Cooper will play piano in an effort to win the judges over.
“I have been playing for five years,” he said.
”I love music and performing. I enjoy how it feels to play in front of people. If I won, it would mean a great deal because I would be able to put money towards future musical ambitions.”
“I am going to play Desposito, Yesterday by the Beatles, Rolling Thunder by Lionel Yu.”
Another sibling duo will also join the line-up of finalists at the event. Leon, 15 years old, and Maya, 17, Holstegge, who have been playing together since they were young, will play a medley of songs from Australian artists.
“We will play some old songs, as well as more recent ones,” Leon said. “We play mainly acoustic versions of songs. We play guitar and sing. I love playing guitar in front of a crowd.”
The music scholarship finals will take place at South Mollymook Beach reserve from 8.45am on Friday, January 26. As well as the competition, there will be market stalls, official ceremony, fun for the family and a dog training exhibition.