Local artist profile: Steph McCorkelle

THIS week we chat with in-demand local vocalist Steph McCorkelle, who sang full time across many genres with the Royal Australian Navy Band for 13 years from the age of 17.

What motivated you to take up singing?

My whole family is a family of musicians.

My mum sang to us from birth and we all naturally became singers.

Mum was an organist, pianist and a choir director in Hobart, where I grew up.

How would you describe your singing style?

I was classically trained through my teens and joined the Royal Australian Navy Band when I was 17.

I developed into a jazz and rock and pop singer through everyday experience singing fulltime with the band for 13 years.

Which other singers inspire you?

The first singer that really stood out to me when I was first becoming myself as a singer was Eva Cassidy.

It took me a very long time to be able to work up the technique to be able to sing anything like her.

I aspired to be like Eva but more recently as I (got) more into jazz, Ella Fitzgerald became a huge inspiration.

There’s also a wonderful Australian a cappella group called The Idea of North.

Their music is inspiring and I’ve learned a lot from listening to them.

Have you had any mentors over your career?

My choir teacher at school Joan Wright was a huge inspiration to me.

She saw something special in me and gave me lots of really fantastic opportunities to perform and to learn as well, including organising a scholarship for me to have singing lessons with a wonderful Hobart woman named Helen Todd.

Helen and Joan together really helped to drive me as a young person.

In the Navy band I was surrounded by some really seasoned, fantastic musicians.

They’d choose songs they thought I would sing well, which is what I needed because I didn’t have a lot of repertoire under my belt when I first started.

What are some highlights you have from your time as a singer so far?

I’m really lucky I get to continue to experience really fantastic things as a singer.

I’m in an a cappella group called The Velvetones – we started together in 2018.

The group has provided me with some pretty exciting highlights of recent years, including travelling to Tasmania for the Festival of Voices.

(However), I’m at a point now where it’s about inspiring the next generation more so than seeking those experiences for myself.

How can people check out your work online?

Facebook’s always the best place to find me – @The Velvetones or @Steph McCorkelle – Vocalist (anytime I’ve got gigs and upcoming performances I’ll post them on the latter).

Do you have any performances on the horizon?

There’s a Velvetones gig at Langley Estate on Sunday 8 February and we’re going to do another Blues Tram on Saturday 11 April.

(Speaking of performances), I recently took over as artistic director of Bendigo Youth Choir and we’re always looking to encourage new members to join*.

*Interested parties can contact the Youth Choir via [email protected]

What would you say to young regional aspiring singers who are thinking of making a go of the creative life?

Get out there and do as many gigs as possible and find yourself a great teacher, someone that can bring the best out in your talent.

Get involved in whatever you can – whatever opportunities come your way or go seeking them (yourself).