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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-15 Daily Xml
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BAWDEN, MS G.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (15:54): I rise to speak about a remarkable local talent from our northern suburbs: no less than 15-year old Grace Bawden. Grace was one of our top eight grand finalists in Channel 7's Australia's Got Talent 2008 series. For those who did not watch the show, Grace was the opera singer, although Grace sings all genres of music, including contemporary, jazz, traditional, musical theatre and arias. Incidentally, Grace also happens to be of indigenous decent.

Grace has a vocal range of over 3½ octaves and has been described as a child prodigy. Some of Australia's most esteemed professionals in the field of opera have likened her voice to a 'Stradivarius', and the maestro Vladimir Vais described her as 'really something very special'. Maestro Vais was the conductor of the legendary Bolshoi Theatre for over 11 years, so his recommendation and offer to mentor Grace is a major credit to her.

Before her appearance on Australia's Got Talent, Grace had already come to the attention of multi-award winning producer Audius Mtawarira, who has worked with Delta Goodrem, Guy Sebastian, Paulini, Deni Hines, Ricki-Lee and many others. Grace also performed live on the Channel 9 Today show in July 2007, with rave reviews from entertainment editor Richard Wilkins, and she has sung on live radio by invitation of Australian Idol judge Mark Holden.

In July 2008 Grace's solo performance not only sold out for World Youth Day at the Sydney Opera House but also finished with a standing ovation. Grace's seeming overnight success has been the result of many years of hard work, self discipline and sheer guts. On top of her musical and academic studies, Grace has worked hard to raise money to self fund her debut album by busking around Adelaide. Many aspects of Grace's story are awe-inspiring, not the least of which is that many had said that her prospects of succeeding in her chosen field of classical-crossover music were remote at best, largely because she does not reside in the eastern states where most of the paid performing arts opportunities are said to exist.

Throughout her journey there have been many local people who must be credited with providing her with small but significant opportunities to showcase her talent, starting with the Musical Director of the Adelaide City Council/The Advertiser Carols by Candlelight, Mr Bruce Raymond, who auditioned Grace in 2006, as well as Salisbury City Council and local businesses such as the Hilton and Hyatt hotels.

While busking, Grace's raw talent and commercial potential attracted many local investors to help her self fund her debut album project, as well as significant donations through the wonderful help of the Australian Business Arts Fund. Grace is now due to complete her debut album with Audius, and it is significant that her success to date has come with no state or federal government funding or support. South Australians will want to know that Grace was signed recently to one of Australia's leading celebrity managers, Max Markson, and has just completed a highly successful showcase for a major record label. In two weeks she will be launching her debut EP and her album will follow soon afterwards.

In closing, I encourage more South Australians in the future to look at investing in our local talent. I also urge the South Australian government to look at better ways of supporting and sponsoring our young artists, and to back this amazing young girl so that her career may continue to flourish within this state.

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