By Luke Voogt
Highton Rotary Star Search opened a “whole new world of performing” for former Geelong Grammar student Zoe Marshall.
“That was probably the first time I performed one of my originals in front of a large crowd,” said the competition’s 2016 vocal winner.
“I’m happy I did it. Whether you win or not, it’s all about the experience and you get a lot out of it.”
It was the second go at the talent search for Zoe, who came third the year before.
“I love performing,” she said, “it’s always been a big passion of mine. So I take any chance I get, really.”
The 20-year-old is now studying music composition at the Victorian College of the Arts, after passing a tough audition process.
“It was a little bit intimidating,” she said. “I had to present a folio of works to a panel and perform in front of them.”
Zoe said she had written 50 songs and recorded five of them. She dreams of a career as a singer-songwriter.
“A lot don’t go anywhere,” she said. “I’m still working on producing them.”
“I’m surrounded by musicians, so I get heaps of chances to jam with people and have fun with that.”
Zoe admitted she was nervous before getting on stage at the star search, too.
“I did a lot of performing at school beforehand,” she said. “I’m getting better now, but I still get butterflies in my stomach.
“But as soon as I’m on stage, everything goes away and I’m in my own world really.”
As well as winning $1000, Zoe got to perform the ballad Walking in Air with her friend playing guitar at Geelong Christmas Carols.“That was such a great opportunity and so much fun.”
Zoe had a connection to the talent search before she even performed in it. Her jazz teacher Paul Rettke Geelong Grammar won the competition in 1978.
Rettke taught Australian music icon Missy Higgins, who herself won the competition in 2000.
“Knowing that Missy Higgins and Mr Rettke won gave me such a buzz because I am hugely influenced and inspired by both,” Zoe said.
Zoe encouraged local artists to give the competition a go.
“Definitely try it – take any opportunity you can get,” she said.
The Highton Rotary Star Search begins 7.30pm at Sacred Heart College’s McAuley Hall on 27 May. The finalists competed in the competition’s vocal and instrumental rounds earlier this month.
Organiser Stephen Bath looked forward to finding the next local star.
“We have a lot of untapped potential in Geelong,” he said.
“The adjudicators, many of whom work in Melbourne’s music industry, are always amazed at our talent – they have quite a hard job.”
Mr Bath said Star Search entries usually varied from “rock guitarists” to “classical pianists”.
“There’s a mix of competitors from all walks of life. This is an opportunity to perform with professional sound and lighting and outside what entrants are used to.”
