The Talent Advancement Program identifies, nurtures and promotes young vocalists from within our local schools.
The Talent Advancement Program identifies, nurtures and promotes young vocalists from within our local schools. Launched in 2002 by us here at Council, the program is supported by the NSW Department of Education. View the TAP Hall of Fame below for more information about the talented performers who have been part of this instrumental program.
Throughout the year, students in the program take part in a series of workshops where experienced coaches and mentors help them develop and strengthen their stage abilities, performance and vocal techniques. The program also provides the opportunity for vocalists to perform at a range of festivals and events giving them the much needed confidence to advance in the world of performing arts.
Applications close 20 November 2023.
For more information and to register your interest contact Steven Voulgaris on 9707 9901, or email tap@cbcity.nsw.gov.au
Wendy is a retired primary school teacher who operates her own music studio. She has over 35 years of experience and dedication to students of the performing arts through her involvement in the Schools Spectacular and local and state-wide programs. Wendy is a former Bankstown Citizen of the Year and mother to Andrew & Michael Tierney of Human Nature.
A former member of the Sydney Opera Company and retired Creative Arts Consultant to the DET NSW Arts Unit, Helen, has an equally impressive number of years dedicated to youth and the performing arts. Helen is also an accomplished painter with her own Art Gallery in Kiama.
Our Sponsors
Our Talent Advancement Program is proud to present some highly successful individuals who got their start in the local area.
Originally from Sydney Australia, Adam moved to New York after a string of first class theatre productions and cabaret performances earned him a highly sought-after Artists Visa.
A graduate of The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (Alum- Hugh Jackman) and recipient of the ASCAP-Bound for Broadway scholarship.
Credits include Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, Irene alongside the legendary Debbie Reynolds, The Producers, Jekyll and Hyde, Crazy for You and original Australian musicals Once We Lived Here and Prodigal.
Adam was Creative Director and Co-Producer of Light the Night, an annual concert supported by the performing arts community that raised money and awareness for leukemia research over the past decade.
More: www.adamrennie0.wix.com/adamrennie
Don't miss Adam Rennie in The Rocky Horror Show'. He replaced Craig McLachlan in the lead role of Frank N Furter. He received rave reviews from the audience and critics for his first performance on Tuesday 9 January.
Sarah was selected to perform at the Schools Spectacular and now operates her own vocal coaching school, Songbird Vocals.
She continues to perform and works for KARI Aboriginal Resources assisting with programs and vocal workshops.
Alex attended the Newtown High School of Performing Arts, and is a graduate of the NIDA Diploma of Music Theatre course. In 2014, Alex graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), where he performed the roles of Judd Fry in ‘Oklahoma!’, Harold Slocum in ‘Summer Rain’, and in his graduating year Arthur in James Millar and Peter Rutherford’s ‘A Little Touch of Chaos’ (dir. Iain Sinclair) and Marryin’ Sam in ‘Lil’ Abner’ (dir. Martin Croft). He is the 2014 recipient of the Ron and Margaret Dobell Award.
In 2015, Alex made his professional debut as part of the ensemble for ‘Anything Goes’ with outstanding reviews and then landed a role in ‘Georgy Girl – The Seekers Musical’. He is currently performing in the musical ‘Aladdin’.
Rachel Bertram is making her mark on the Australian music scene performing at some of the biggest venues in Australia, including the Opera House, Telstra Stadium, Easterfest, Blackstump Music Festival and the Conservatorium of Music.
After winning the 2011 backstage to Mainstage Songwriting Competition with her song "Waiting", her music career has taken off. Releasing her self-titled EP in March 2012. Writing from the heart her music is an infusion of acoustic pop entwined with intricate melodies and beautifully honest lyrics.
More: www.facebook.com/rachelbertrammusic/info and www.rachelbertram.com
Casey Donovan is one of Australia's most versatile Indigenous entertainers. After a meteoric rise to fame in 2004, at the age of 16, she became the youngest ever winner of Australian Idol. Casey makes her mark not only as a musician, but on the stage in musical theatre and as a television presenter, emcee, and author.
In 2015, Casey starred in the musical "We Will Rock You". Casey is a multi-Award winner and nominee, including an ARIA Number One Award for Listen with Your Heart and Deadly Awards for Best Album, Best Single and Most Promising New Talent.
Following her outstanding performance in The Sapphires, for which she received rave reviews both here and in the UK, Casey was nominated for Best Newcomer and Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical in the Sydney Theatre Awards. She is indeed one of Sydney's most talented performers.
In 2017, Casey won the Australian version of the TV series I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here, where she was announced as the first ever Queen in the Jungle. She was also the face of the Coles 'Down down' campaign.
More: www.caseydonovan.com
Jaden is a seasoned performer who lived and worked in the UK, where she auditioned successfully for the Australian Idol 2008 series and was flown home from London.
Jaden made it through to the top 24 and once again calls Australia home.
From Bankstown to LA, Joel is taking the music scene by storm and is currently working on his first solo release!
Joel Taylor has music in his blood having been born into a family of musicians, producers and promoters who set him on his path to becoming an accomplished piano and guitar player, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
His unique blend of playful eclectic and soulful songwriting highlights his incomparable skills on the piano and brings to mind the likes of early Elton John and Billy Joel infused with a truly modern flair.
Joel's stunning live performances illustrates his range as an artist going seamlessly from emotionally yet beautiful ballads to raucous, high energy anthems.
In addition to his solo work, he has lent his musical talents as a performer to a wide array of artists performing with Guy Sebastian, Ronan Keating, Leona Lewis and Good Charlotte to name a few as well sitting in as the keyboardist for "The LA All Stars" who he has toured the globe with from St. Petersburg, to Hong Kong, Barcelona and Canada in addition to television appearances on The X Factor, The Today Show and more.
More: www.thisisjoeltaylor.com and www.facebook.com/thisisjoeltaylor
Sabrina is right at home in the entertainment industry and has collaborated with some of Australia's best entertainers, having performed alongside Cody Simpson, Jessica Mauboy, DJ Havana Brown, Wes Carr, Timomatic and supporting KC and JOJO on their Australian Tour.
Along with her music career, Sabrina has a passion for presenting. In 2010 Sabrina moved to the Gold Coast to become part of an on air Breakfast duo at (RADIO 97) 104.1FM alongside Luke Warburton.
After graduating from The Sydney Academy of Film and Television, Sabrina took to the red carpet, working with FOXTEL'S Backstage Mojo on live events such as The MTV Awards Australia, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, the Arias and more. She has interviewed and rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest stars in the world including Ricky Martin, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hawkins, Mark Wahlberg, Sia, Ruby Rose, Xavier Samual, Good Charllotte and Ja Rule.
Sabrina's contagious energy and positive attitude on stage will take you on a journey to remember. She is now ready to take over the world and shine bright on her own stage.
More: www.instagram.com/sabrinamitwali and ww.facebook.com/officialsabrinamitwali
Victoria always had a wonderful voice and was the TAP Performer of the Year in 2007 and was part of the TAP on Tour performing group who travelled to Colorado Springs and Los Angeles.
Her passion for music led to the completion of a Bachelor of Music (Honors) degree at The University of Western Sydney in 2011, majoring in Musicology.
Victoria has now found her true self and we could not be happier for her. She is now working both in Sydney and overseas as a talented and vivacious transgender DJ and showgirl, Victoria has a large following and continues in the world of performing arts that she has always loved.
Jodie is an amazing soprano, who graduated from the Conservatorium High School and was a featured performer at the Schools Spectacular.
She was named the TAP Performer of the Year in 2010 and was the Local Government Superstar.
Jodie continues with her voice training and whilst her career lies elsewhere we hope to see her return to the stage to share her talent with the world.
Jah Tung was certainly the star of the TAP Performance Tour to Broken Hill where he was interviewed and performed live on ABC Radio and won many fans throughout the tour.
An accomplished guitarist and songwriter, Jah Tung is eager to return to Germany where he spent time performing and learning from others to hone his craft as a reggae/soul/hip hop artist.
He performs regularly and also works with local youth at the Bankstown Youth Development Service at the Bankstown Arts Centre and now ventures into the production end of the industry with his home studio.
Be sure to check out his page for the latest news and releases.
Ashleigh Judge is a master of many talents, not only does she sing, she has a passion for baking!
During the 2016 Easter Show, Ashleigh was honoured by the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS), receiving a Champions of the RAS Award, a new initiative for individuals who promote sustainable development of agriculture. Of course she does come from a long line of successful bakers, being the third generation of her family to exhibit perishable cooking in the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
In the 14 years that she has been competing, Ashleigh has won the WH Davies Memorial Perpetual Trophy for most meritorious exhibitor in the children's section and has been named most successful junior exhibitor in perishable cooking for 10 years, but to us she is still our musical theatre entertainer who was always so prepared and immersed in character.
Heather Riley is one of the most versatile students to have come through the program and was selected for the Schools Spectacular in 2011 and 2012. She featured in many of the yearly TAP Presentation Awards, being named Directors Choice in 2009, Performers Choice in 2010 and Performer of the Year in 2011 when she also picked up the Yagoona Lions TAP Scholarship.
In her final year, Heather received a special 'Diva' Award for her overall performances. She certainly made an impact on the TAP performance tour to Suita, Japan where she had audiences on their feet.
Heather is equally at home in front of the stage and in 2014 she directed her first musical for the Regals Musical Society – Disney's Mulan Jnr. Since graduating from UOW with a Bachelor of Performance degree, Heather has continued to direct and also to perform. Her latest projects in 2016 have been involvement in both the Sydney and Melbourne Fringe Festivals.
Sinead won the coveted Roselands Talent Quest in 2012 and was also named 2012 TAP Performer of the Year. In 2014 she placed first in Bankstown Central's Everyone's Got Talent Competition, once again blowing everyone away with her powerful vocals.
Sinead comes from a musical family and performs regularly at venues across Sydney and annually at the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. She is also the owner/operator of Beverly Hills Singing Studio and continues to perform herself and with her duo partner, Daniel Rhodes. Performing as Acoustic Grooves, they have recently completed shows on the Pacific Dawn Cruise liner, covering a wide range of different genres.
Nicole was a member of TAP throughout her high school years, and was highly regarded, receiving the Directors Choice award in 2010, the Yagoona Lions TAP Scholarship in 2012 and was named the TAP 'Voice of 2013'.
2013 was a huge year for Nicole, who won her way through many rounds of competition to be named the 'Voice of McDonalds Australia, Asia and Africa' , an amazing accomplishment that saw her travel to Orlando, Florida to compete in the World Grand Finals against the winners from Europe and America.
Nicole is currently looking for a guitarist so that she can continue her journey.
Jess was part of the TAP on Tour performance group who travelled to Japan for performances in Suita and Tokyo. A talented musician, Jess released her debut E.P 'Fools March' in 2012, produced by songwriter Adrian Deutsch (Ex Red Riders). Her E.P received rave reviews from critics, fellow musicians and fans, as well as both her singles "Fools March" and "Fix It" being played on high rotation on both Triple J's digital radio stations Unearthed and Dig Music. The popularity of these tracks also gained her a spot in the Triple J "Unearthed Five" and artist spotlight.
In 2015 Jess Dunbar and partner Matt Price auditioned on X-Factor and were placed 3rd.
Jess and Matt were snapped up by Sony Music Australia, just a day after the series final.
They released their first debut album on 18 December, 2015. The self-titled album features re-recorded studio tracks of some of their performances on the show including 'Dancing In the Dark', 'Lay Me Down' and 'Do You Remember,' as well as their debut single, 'Nothing Matters'. Her star is still rising!
More: www.jessandmattlive.com/ and www.facebook.com/jessandmattofficial
Lauren has a unique voice that won her many fans as the lead singer in a band called 'The Gold Beats', who had regular gigs all over Sydney and completed a 3-month tour on a Caribbean Cruise liner. She is currently focusing on her solo career.
Shavaun is part of the girl group 'Paris Inc' who made it through their section to the Top 27 of X-Factor in 2015. With more than 100,000 subscribers, Paris Inc. continues to grow in popularity and we wish them all the best of luck in the industry they love.
Alexandra has been performing since the age of five and is a talented singer/songwriter. She is currently sharing her love for music throughout various venues in Sydney. Alexandra has numerous awards under her belt including a World Champion title acquired at the World Championships of Performing Arts and first place in several Talent Quests and the 2012 Sydney Eisteddfod. She has worked with some big names in the Australian music industry including Guy Sebastian and has also appeared on Sunrise.
In 2015 Alexandra auditioned for X-Factor and made it through to the top 27 girls and in 2016 she auditioned and appeared on 'The Voice'. 2016 has been a great year and Alex is now heading for Europe with Platinum Harmony, where she will be performing in London and Paris.