PENELOPE SOMERVILLE, Penelope was born in Bendigo on the 27th. February 1989, and lives on the family farm near Bendigo, in Central Victoria. Penelopefs love of music was apparent at a very early age, and she received her first violin at 2 years of age, and began formal classical violin lessons, aged 5 years. During the past seven years she has studied violin, and in August 2002, gained a Credit for her AMEB (Australian music examinations board) grade 6 exam, and is currently preparing for grade 7. Penelope was a member of Golden Strings (junior section of the youth orchestra) where she was leader in 1999, and now plays Lead violin in the Bendigo youth Orchestra. She is also a member of the school orchestra and string group, and studies music theory. Penelope began singing lessons in 2000 and also plays guitar and drums. Last year Penelope received an invitation to join the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra. Penelopefs first public performance was at 5 years of age, for the Victorian legacy concert, she performs for Bendigo legacy each year, at their invitation. Penelope has performed for many local concerts, and functions, in the surrounding districts and is a member of Country music clubs, Maryborough, Echuca, Mooroopna, and Tamworth CCMA. And has been invited guest artist of country music clubs includingc.Echuca, Mooroopna, Beaufort, Sebastopol ( Ballarat ), Cohuna and also performed at clubs such as Shepparton, Kyabram, and Ballarat. Penelope also performed for fundraiser concerts for radio stations at Benalla, Echuca-Moama, and Bendigo. Penelope regularly attends the Mildura Country Music Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival and performed at the Moyston (Victoria) country music festival in March 2001 and again in 2002, and was invited as a guest artist for the festival in March 2003, by popular demand. In 2001, Penelope attained seventeen trophies, and was particularly successful during the Tamworth National Talent Quest in January 2001 and July 2001. In January 2001 Penelope won both sections for 12 years and under at the CCMA Tamworth. And returned to Tamworth in July for the Winter Junior Country Music Competitions, where she won 9 trophies Including, Over All winner for Junior juvenile section, a Camerata scholarship, and was also the winner of the Performer of the Night Award, given by the RSL club. The Camerata , is a Junior Country Music School , which caters for 31 selected students, during the July school holidays. Students are selected through-out Australia and last year 2 were from NewZealand. The first scholarship to attend the inaugral Camerata 2002 was sponsored by the Tamworth city council and awarded to Penelope at 12 years of age. The Camerata is for students under 18 years. The performer of the Night award which was presented to Penelope in 2001 and again in 2002, was presented by the RSL club, for the best performance of all winners of all sections during the concert of winners on the awards night. In September 2001 Penelope was successful at the Mildura festival, winning under 14 vocal section, and 2nd place in both Open Instrumental and Senior duet (with sister Rebecca). As a result of Penelopefs success she received an invitation to compete in the heats for the Victorian Champion of Champion competitions held during the festival. Penelope won the heat and went on to the evening finals, where she was announced as Junior Juvenile Victorian Champion of Champions. On October 28th 2001, Penelope was invited as a guest performer at an annual outdoor concert for the public at Mooroopna, Victoria. During the concert a surprised Penelope was presented by the Mooroopna country music club committee, with the Stead Perpetual trophy, awarded annually to a young talent, who they considered to have the most potential to succeed in Country Music. In January 2002, at the Tamworth CCMA National competitions, Penelope Won both sections for Vocal 12 years and under, (repeating her success of 2001), and also won Junior under 17 years Instrumental section, and was the only performer to win 3 individual sections ( including Junior and Senior sections ) In July 2002, Penelope attended the gCameratah in Tamworth ( a school for 31 selected junior country music artists) and was also very successful at the CCMA ( Capital Country Music Association) Winter Junior competitions, winning under 17years Instrumental section and once again winning the Performance of the Night award, (awarded by the RSL Club ) in a concert of winners of all sections. Following her success as winner of performer of the night award, Penelope was invited to perform with the backing band for the prestigious Tiara awards, and selected to perform at the Opening Concert for Tamworth Festival 2003. Penelope competed in the Moama Talent search in August, where she won a heat and went on to be the youngest of six finalists in the open age competition. (a repeat of her success in 2001) On August 25th 2002, Penelope was invited to travel to Warrnambool to be special guest artist at a charity concert to benefit Palliative Care. During the school holidays, Penelope performed for an afternoon entertaining patients of the Daycare Centre at the Rochester hospital. On September 8th 2002, the Bendigo Youth Orchestra travelled to Elmore and Heathecote to present public community concerts, where Penelope lead the orchestra as first Violin and also presented a solo performance during the concert. Penelope returned from the Mildura Country Music Festival, on the 1st October, where she successfully competed in the g 11th Top of the state Talent Quest g where she was winner of the Open age Instrumental section, and also Under 14 Australian country vocal section, and gained 3rd in under 14 vocal . Penelope was then invited to compete in the Champions Awards, where she was selected in the finals and was announced as winner of g Junior Juvenile Victorian Champion of Champions In October 2002, Penelope was special guest artist for both Mooroopna and Shepparton country music clubs and was Winner of the Mooroopna Memorial trophy for Best Young Talent for 2002. In November, Penelope was invited to perform at the Shepparton truck show, Castlemaine truck show, Uniting Church Bendigo dinner, Bendigo Laurel Club dinner, and Bendigo Legacy concert (which she has performed for annually since 5 years old). In December, Penelope was an invited guest artist for the Kyabram country music club Christmas concert and also the Echuca country music club Christmas concert, and performed for the Bendigo Carols by Candelight concert in Rosalind park, and in the Hargreaves Mall New Years Eve Concert. Penelope is a student of Girton Grammar School in Bendigo, and in December Penelope was honoured at the school Speech night, being presented with an award for Excellence in Music. In January 2003, Penelope returned to Tamworth, where she performed at the Opening concert for the festival for an audience of 15,000 people, and was also invited to be part of the backing band for the Tiara Awards night. Penelope also performed at the Camerata reunion concert and was selected one of 12 for a Young Country Stars concert during the festival. Penelope entered the Tamworth CCMA National Talent Quest and was very successful, being a finalist in three sections and Winning the Junior under 17 years Instrumental section. Penelope also won a major talent quest during the festival in Tamworth. The g Jazzer Smith Memorial Talent Questh ( sponsored by K-Mart ) has been running for 22 years, and 90 juniors competed for it . As well as her prize, as winner of this Talent Quest, Penelope was awarded a scholarship by Axiom Entertainment Agency in Tamworth, to attend the Camerata again in July 2003. In February 2003, Penelope performed at the Bunyip Festival ( audience of approx 5,000 ) and Moyston Festival in March 2003, where she has been invited annually. During February , Penelope performed at outdoor venues for the Summer public community concerts in Bendigo and Heathcote. In March 2003, Penelope performed at the Moyston festival( near Ararat, Vic )and has been invited to return annually , by popular demand. During Elderly citizens week in March the Howie Brothers invited Penelope to perform with them at the Lansell Shopping Plaza in Kangaroo Flat ( Bendigo ) and again at the Mooroopna Country music club. Penelope is leader of the Bendigo Youth Orchestra and during Elderly Citizens week , travelled to Elmore to present a concert to residents. In April, Penelope performed with her sister, Rebeccafs band, and regularly at country music clubs where she is a member of four separate clubs. In June Penelope gave her time freely to perform for the evening at a party, which was oprganized by local community members in Heathcote ( Vic ) given for a cancer sufferer in remission. During the school holidays of July 2003, Penelope attended Camerata school ( for 24 selected junior country musicians) for which she had won a scholarship in January 2003, competing with ninety other juniors. Following the Camerata, was the CCMA Winter Junior Talent Quest, where Penelope competed and won the Instrumental section for the fourth year. She also won the group section and was placed in the top five of five sections, gaining third in Gospel vocal under seventeen years. Penelope attended the Tamworth Festival , where she performed at the Tiara awards and also backed Adam Harvey. She was an artist on the Roll of renown concert where she also backed other artists and presented the Hands of Fame awards to Melinda Schnieder and Brendon Walmsley, performed with Donella Plane on her Show and also performed at the Camerata re-union concert. During the Festival Penelopefs father passed away very suddenly, and she returned home. Penelope once again was invited to be an artist at the Bunyip Festival , in February and also the Moyston Festival in March. In July 2004, Penelope returned to Tamworth for the Hats of Festival where she performed at the Camerata re-union concert and also Greg Williams and friends concert. She competed in the CCMA Junior winter competitions and was placed 1st for Instrumental section for the fifth year in a row, 2nd in songwriting and 3rd in group and duet sections. In July Penelope applied and was selected as one of 12 contestants for the Bendigo section of the Telstra Road to Tamworth competition, where was judged as winner of the that heat, winning $1,000 for expenses to Tamworth for 2005 to compete in the finals. In Septemeber Penelope competed in the gTop of the State Talent questh at the Mildura country music festival and was very successful, winning the Open Instrumental/vocal section as well as the junior Australian country and junior duet and was announced as Junior over-all winner and Grand Over-all winner. Penelope completed her time at Mildura by being selected in the top 8 juniors at the heats for the Champions competitions and at the finals was announced as Junior Victorian Champion of Champions. Penelope is aiming for a successful career in Country Music, with her vocal and fiddle playing abilities, and because of her hard work and dedication to music , she has attained the ability to be able to entertain such a wide audience, regularly giving her time and expertise to many organizations in the community, including : Elderly citizens clubs, Palliative Care, Daycare centres, Community radio stations, Victorian Legacy, Uniting Church function, Bicycle Australia, Four individual country music clubs, Bendigo Youth Orchestra, School Orchestra and string group, and festivals. Thankyou for visiting my page,and please come back soon. " SMILES"
My Favorite Web Sites
Family photos
Moyston Country Music Festival
CAMERATA
Australian country music news
CCMA Talent Quest
Rebecca's Page.
OzMusic
Selym
More Photos
D'sPlace.COUNTRY MUSIC.
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