Published Friday, 20 July, 2007 at 02:17 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
PREMIER ANNOUNCES $20,000 GRANT MCLENNAN FELLOWSHIP WINNER
Premier Peter Beattie has today announced a talented Toowoomba-based songwriter will be jetting off to New York as the inaugural recipient of the $20,000 Grant McLennan Fellowship.
Mr Beattie said Greg Charles, 27, was selected from a strong field of Queensland songwriters for his confident and innovative approach to music, lyrical maturity and skill in crafting songs.
“Named in honor of the late singer-songwriter Grant McLennan of The Go-Betweens, the Fellowship offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an artist like Greg to immerse themselves in the local music culture of New York, Berlin or London,” he said.
“While Grant loved his home State of Queensland, these cities influenced his songwriting and he found inspiration in traveling and performing overseas.
“As an up-and-coming Queensland songwriter, Greg will now get to learn from his experiences in New York and develop his songwriting career.”
The Grant McLennan Fellowship selection panel, made up of The Go-Betweens members Robert Forster, Adele Pickvance and Glenn Thompson, was on the look out for a contemporary music songwriter with experience and exceptional talent.
“The selection panel agreed – Greg Charles fitted the bill perfectly,” Mr Beattie said.
Greg has played with various garage, alternative and underground bands in Toowoomba and Brisbane since 2000. In the last two years he has returned to his country and melodic roots, performing one-man shows and releasing two successful experimental recordings.
Arts Minister Rod Welford said he was extremely pleased with the number and calibre of Fellowship entries which demonstrated the wealth of talent in Queensland.
“We received entries from across the State, with songwriters from Rockhampton, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Brisbane, many with extensive experience and success within the music industry and all keen to hone their talents overseas,” Mr Welford said.
Other shortlisted songwriters were Ben Salter (Woolloongabba), Simon Pearlman (Fortitude Valley), Emma Dean (Ashgrove), Edward Guglielmino (New Farm) and the Rockhampton songwriting team of John Busby and Chris Dale, now based in Brisbane.
Arts Queensland administers the Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship.
Entries for 2008 will open in February with guidelines and applications available at www.arts.qld.gov.au or by calling 07 3224 4896 or 1800 175 531.
July 20, 2007
Media contacts: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Minister’s Office – 3237 1000
Mr Beattie said Greg Charles, 27, was selected from a strong field of Queensland songwriters for his confident and innovative approach to music, lyrical maturity and skill in crafting songs.
“Named in honor of the late singer-songwriter Grant McLennan of The Go-Betweens, the Fellowship offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an artist like Greg to immerse themselves in the local music culture of New York, Berlin or London,” he said.
“While Grant loved his home State of Queensland, these cities influenced his songwriting and he found inspiration in traveling and performing overseas.
“As an up-and-coming Queensland songwriter, Greg will now get to learn from his experiences in New York and develop his songwriting career.”
The Grant McLennan Fellowship selection panel, made up of The Go-Betweens members Robert Forster, Adele Pickvance and Glenn Thompson, was on the look out for a contemporary music songwriter with experience and exceptional talent.
“The selection panel agreed – Greg Charles fitted the bill perfectly,” Mr Beattie said.
Greg has played with various garage, alternative and underground bands in Toowoomba and Brisbane since 2000. In the last two years he has returned to his country and melodic roots, performing one-man shows and releasing two successful experimental recordings.
Arts Minister Rod Welford said he was extremely pleased with the number and calibre of Fellowship entries which demonstrated the wealth of talent in Queensland.
“We received entries from across the State, with songwriters from Rockhampton, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Brisbane, many with extensive experience and success within the music industry and all keen to hone their talents overseas,” Mr Welford said.
Other shortlisted songwriters were Ben Salter (Woolloongabba), Simon Pearlman (Fortitude Valley), Emma Dean (Ashgrove), Edward Guglielmino (New Farm) and the Rockhampton songwriting team of John Busby and Chris Dale, now based in Brisbane.
Arts Queensland administers the Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship.
Entries for 2008 will open in February with guidelines and applications available at www.arts.qld.gov.au or by calling 07 3224 4896 or 1800 175 531.
July 20, 2007
Media contacts: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Minister’s Office – 3237 1000