Youth strike a chord

YOUNG musicians aged 11 to 17 are being invited to join the Youth Music Venture program at Seagulls in Tweed Heads.

Since 2009, the volunteer-run youth music initiative has provided a free program teaching young musicians to play and perform in bands.

Initially established on the southern Gold Coast, the YMV expanded to the Tweed four years ago and has been readying keen young musicians for all things music.

The eight-week program begins by establishing four to six complete bands based on their performance and interests from video auditions.

The bands rehearse for 1½ hours each week with professional musical mentors, and each program finishes with a rock star finale performance at Seagulls.

Founder and president of the Youth Music Venture, Ian Grace, said the program had always wanted to expand into Tweed with the wealth of talent in the region.

“We had spoken to Tweed Council quite a few years back, and then we had COVID, floods and so on,” he said.

“Years later, I was at a function in Tweed, talking to youth about turning their love of music into a business, and I was approached about the possibility of launching our program in Tweed.

“They knew who we were and what we did, and that was it.

“It took a while, but we have been in the Tweed for four years now, and it’s going strong.”

The YMV works closely with schools and industry organisations such as HOTA, Emmanuel College, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Southern Cross University/Coomera TAFE program and the Seagulls Club.

YMV has received many accolades over the years, including accumulating a $150,000 portfolio of grants and sponsorships and providing 13 performances at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. To date, over 700 young musicians have gone through the program.

Applications close on Wednesday, April 30 at 3 pm.

For more information or to apply for the program, sign up at youthmusicventure.com.au