US scholarship music to ears
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MUSIC was never taken too seriously by Esther Tetlow as she grew up.
"I thought it was something everyone did, I wasn't aware that it was unusual," the former KingsWay School student says.
Esther has just been awarded a US$8000 scholarship to pursue her dreams at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The Wainui resident is studying contemporary music at the Excel School of Performing Arts in Auckland.
Esther is happy to have won the award but still needs another NZ$70,000 if she wants to finish her undergraduate studies at Berklee.
Her mother could not afford music lessons for her when she was growing up so Esther taught herself basic piano and guitar by ear.
"I never took music seriously enough to do anything about it.
"But I began writing when my parents separated in 2004."
It was her tutor Koia Tomlinson who noticed Esther's talent and suggested she attend a songwriting workshop by Berklee tutor Pat Pattison.
Mr Pattison recognised her potential and suggested she attend a more in-depth master songwriting class.
"I sang and he asked me to apply for an audition.
"I was then flown to Sydney and had an excruciating interview.
"But I was so chuffed to think of the opportunity I was given," Esther says.
She has until January 2012 to accept the scholarship, and hopes to have enough money to enrol by next August.
She says she'll "ride the wave as long as she can" and if she's meant to study music in the US it will happen.
Esther will be touring Auckland over the summer with the release of her debut EP, which she's now busy recording. Email esthertetlowmusic @live.com if you can help.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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