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Free songwriters' workshop with Jan Hellriegel during NZ Music Month

Thursday 12 May 2011, 5:33PM

By Rotorua District Council

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ROTORUA

Local aspiring female songwriters have the opportunity to hone their talents at a workshop hosted by one of New Zealand’s most accomplished entertainers Jan Hellriegel.

The workshop, in conjunction with New Zealand Music Month, is free and supported by Rotorua District Council (RDC) and Rotorua Trust. It will be held on Sunday 29 May from 10.30am to 1.30pm at Rotorua Arts Village Experience (RAVE).

RDC community arts officer Kiri Jarden says the workshop is for young women looking to extend their existing songwriting skills, including composition, lyric writing and performance.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for local songstresses to be inspired by one of New Zealand’s most successful female vocalists.

“She has a wealth of knowledge to share with emerging songwriters, which will hopefully improve participants’ current abilities, and perhaps give them the confidence to further their music-making aspirations.”

Jan Hellriegel’s musical experience began with vocal training in speech and singing at St. Mary’s College, before becoming involved in the Dunedin music scene when she attended the University of Otago in the 1980s.

By 1991, she had signed a deal with Warner Records NZ to record solo material. Her first album It’s My Sin was released in 1992, followed by second album Tremble in 1995.

In 1996 she was awarded Most Promising Female Vocalist at the NZ Music Awards, and Top Female Vocalist and Single of the Year (for Manic) at the Music and Entertainer Awards of New Zealand.

Her album All Grown Up was released in October 2009, alongside a concert at Auckland’s Civic Theatre. As favourable reviews were pouring in, the video for her 1991 single The Way I Feel was placed second in a New Zealand Film Archive ‘Wall of Fame’ poll to find New Zealand’s greatest music videos.

Local musician Richard Anaru will also be taking a ‘males only’ class on Sunday 29 May at RAVE.

For more information on the workshops or to register contact Kiri Jarden on 07 351 8154 or email kiri.jarden@rdc.govt.nz .