Bright future ahead for musician

EIGHTEEN-year-old Wil Oldaker gradated last year from Ballarat Grammar with a perfect score in VCE VET music performance and his plans to peruse music haven’t stopped there.

He is currently undertaking a year 13 at the school where he will complete a certificate IV in music industry and assist as an academic mentor for students.

Part of the certification involves a major project and Oldaker plans to release his own music this year.

“The project is of my choice and because we have awesome facilities I am going to hopefully release an EP,” he said.

“It will be songs that show me, because I haven’t really released something yet and I’d really like to make a strong entry to the industry.”

Earlier this year, Oldaker appeared on Australian Idol and he said the experience was a great opportunity to learn from judge Marcia Hines.

“I learnt that the music industry is so hard and so intense, but I did really, really enjoy it,” he said.

“It was an awesome experience meeting Marcia in Ballarat and it was great to meet some likeminded people around me.

“Marcia just had really deep chats with us of camera about confidence and growing as your own artist.”

Oldaker’s love of music began with his involvement in musicals in Ballarat.

“I kind of grew a love of music through doing musicals, it’s not so much what I enjoy the most now, but it kind of got me started,” he said.

“Every single musical has a different musical director and the musical director, what they did was something they really aspired to do.

“Their love for music, and sometimes they’re volunteering, was something I looked up to.”

Part of Oldaker’s reasoning to return to Ballarat Grammar was the support provided by his music teacher Sarah Barlow.

“The main factor in me coming back was Sarah because she’s honestly mentored me throughout me whole life and been involved in musicals I’ve been involved in,” he said.

“We’ve had this relationship that’s been really awesome and she’s been my mentor and someone I look up to.”

Ms Barlow said she is looking forward to seeing what Wil achieves across the year.

“I’ve taught Wil for a very long time, since he was about 10, and I’ve seen him grow into an incredible artist across lots of mediums,” she said.

“That’s what gets me continuing to teach, it’s really incredible.

“Teaching has so much benefit because you get to see things like this.”