AMEB Rockschool is pleased to introduce its Rockschool Ambassador program.
Each of these young performers from Australia and New Zealand have completed Rockschool Diplomas and are now forging careers in the music industry. They are keen to share with other young instrumentalists how Rockschool has shaped their musical journey and contributed to their success and we are looking forward to watching their careers progress.
Emma fell in love with the electric bass guitar at the age of eight. Greatly inspired by her school’s music teacher who was a gifted bass player, and later her dedicated bass tutor, she began her journey in music supported by an environment of passion and exploration both at school and at home. From day one she was taught within the framework of Rockschool, completing by her 16th birthday all Grades 1 to 8 with distinction. At school she participated in all school bands, was involved in the TV show Young Talent Time, and performed at local jazz music festivals. Around the same time with a love of dance she performed in many dance eisteddfods, and she saw subtly the natural combination of rhythm and movement flowing into her musical performance. .
Upon finishing school. Emma’s studies were furthered at the Sydney Conservatorium of music in Contemporary Music, and then at the Australian Institute of Music where she was awarded the National Excellence scholarship. With strong personal goals for global experiences in music, Emma received a scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music’s summer program in Boston. At Berklee her talent was further recognised as amongst 70 bass players she was awarded to perform in the All Star Ensemble.
Emma’s performance experience has been extensive as she has worked in Australia, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the US. With a desire to experience different genres, Emma has performed in numerous touring musicals, venue gigs, and for various artists including most recently recording and featuring in music videos and the summer music festivals in the UK. Her International gaols have been supported by her creativity in using social media as a platform to connect with some incredible inspirational musicians around the world. In 2018 she was taught by Victor Wooten in Boston and in 2019 met her music idol Marcus Miller in London.
Emma’s love for music and collaborating with others inspired her be an active tutor with young musicians and in 2017 to set-up her own successful music collective to enable other young musicians to work professionally together in Australian gigs including at venues, events, and cruise ships. Emma has an open and caring love of music and she values the opportunity to ignite the spark in others to explore a musical path in life. She feels blessed for the skills and confidence gained from Rockschool, and the support and inspiration from so many talented and inspiring people on her journey.
Singer, Songwriter, Drummer, Guitarist & Bassist, Oli Naglost lives and breathes all things music. Despite having just turned 17, Oli has already toured the US three times, won countless awards both individually and with his various bands and recorded and released music that has commercial radio airplay. He completed Grade 8 Rockschool on Drums with a score of 96% including perfect scores for two of his three major pieces and for musicianship. Most recently Oli gained his Diploma in Music Performance through RSL Awards (London).
In 2013, when Oli was 11, he won his first Sydney High Schools band competition award as most promising drummer. He has since gone on to win a further 10 band competition titles including for individual performance, best original music and cover music performance.
At 12 Oli embarked on his first US tour performing across 6 states including at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and at SummerFest, the world’s largest music festival, in Milwaukee. Subsequent US tours included performances in 10 states at famous rock venues including Exit/In in Nashville, Graceland in Memphis and Lincoln Hall in Chicago. In Australia, Oli has performed at the Enmore Theatre, the Vanguard, the MPavilion, the Sydney Town Hall, the Sydney Opera House and in front of 15,000 people at Qudos Bank Arena.
Oli was a finalist in the Sydney Junior Guitar Championships in 2018. He was also featured on commercial television and was interviewed on various radio stations including WCZT (New Jersey), Triple M, 2CH, Star 104.5 and fm99.3. Oli’s band Dysfunction is a multi-award winning pop punk group who’s recently released EP “In Circles” has received airplay on Triple M, Triple J Unearthed and many others. Oli regularly performs in support of numerous charity organisations including Variety, Gotcha4Life, Lifeline and RUOK.
Tyler Bailey began drumming in 2008 at the age of eight. After six months of lessons in his home town of Wanaka it began to show that he had more than bit of talent behind the drum kit. With the support of his parents he was able to devote himself to learning and putting in the practice hours.
Tyler began his Rockschool journey in 2013. Travelling 2.5 hours each way to the Ashby School of Music Rockschool Centre in Gore for a 2 hour lesson every other Saturday from 2013-2018. Over this time he completed Rockschool drum exams Grade 1-8 gaining Distinction passes for all with an average of 97% for each exam. In December 2018 Tyler sat the exam for the Rockschool Level 4 Diploma in Music Performance gaining a Distinction pass.
Tyler won several music awards and a scholarship while at High School. He was the senior drummer for the school jazz band. His school band Near Armageddon won their Rockquest regional final two years running and got to open in front of 17,000 for REO Speedwagon, Huey Lewis and Melissa Etheredge. In his senior year he taught drums. He has played on stage with New Zealand icons Dave Dobbyn and Jon Toogood. Tyler has travelled extensively attending drum seminars and clinics in Melbourne, Sydney and Los Angeles.
Tyler’s goal is to be a drummer that can play all styles with the feel and approach required for the occasion. He is influenced by all genres of music with a particular appreciation for progressive rock. Currently (2019) he is in his first year at Otago University studying for a Bachelor of Music Degree.
Having been born in the USA it is likely Tyler in due course will look there to further his career and is open to all opportunities that may present themselves!
Abbey Grace is an Award Winning Singer/Songwriter from Melbourne. Abbey has won many major songwriting and vocal competitions across Australia and has been a finalist in competitions in America and the U.K.
She received one of the highest marks in the world for Grade 8 Rockschool (London), has graduated with a Diploma of Music Performance and Licentiate of Music Performance (with distinction) through RSL Awards (London). She was the youngest person in Australia to do the Licentiate in Music Performance (Vocal) in 2018.
Abbey has performed as a soloist for many leading organisations across Australia for both Corporate and private clients and events, and released her first EP to critical acclaim in 2016. She has performed in America and the U.K on multiple occasions and has been only one of two people in Australia to participate in intensive songwriting and music training at ICMP.
Highlights of Abbey’s achievements include: Winning the “Music Count us in” Competition Australia wide with the song she co-wrote with John Foreman & Katie Noonan being sung by 500,000 students across Australia; Radio airplay, live performances and interviews across major stations in the country and being the only Australian to be invited to a masterclass at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London where she performed at venues in the U.K.
In 2017 Abbey won the Folk/Acoustic section at the Australian Songwriters Association Competition (Australia’s largest Songwriting Competition) in the Open Category and has also been a finalist in other categories over the years at the ASA’s and ISC. She was a finalist at the ASA’s in 2018 for her contribution and achievement in Songwriting.
