ACMF Song Comp 2008

Don Spencer, famous Australian musician, established the Australian Children's Music Foundation (ACMF) out of his passion to motivate young budding musicians from around the country to follow their dreams and engage in creative, expressive, enriching pursuits which music provides.

ACMF run a National Songwriting Competition to find promising artists. We chat to Cameron McGlinchey, who has played the drums since he was 7 years of age and now is on the judging panel for the drumming section of the competition. Also a judge is the infamous Dicko (Ian Dickson) from Australian Idol!

One of the comp winners - Richard Bloomfield - is a student and songwriter from Bega High School. Richard, coming from a musical family - with his Mum being a classical pianist, and his Dad a singer - has been performing since he was 9 years old.

He entered the competition on the closing day, putting three songs in, and was surprised at the song which they picked - called 'Miss Horizon', which is about looking for love. When he first started song writing, it took Richard a couple of years to pluck up the courage to perform as he found it hard to bare his soul, but now he is overcoming that. He appreciates music's ability to convey emotions and feelings, and make the audience feel something too. SkillsOne captured Richard playing his song with his guitar - amidst the shocking Bega flies and heat!

Richard won $400 for his school and $600 of musical equipment for himself. He intends to get parts for his old guitar and restore it. In the immediate future, Richard is releasing a song with his band who are due to tour in January. Hopes to pursue a music career starting in Sydney in February.

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VJ Lucy Nash