By VANESSA VALENZUELA
A GROUP of talented teens who share a love for music will continue to work backstage at the best gigs in town after receiving a funding boost of $72,000 last month.
Brimbank Youth Services YMCA group ‘Noise Construction’ gives young people living in the municipality the chance to plan and host musical events in Melbourne’s West.
YMCA Events Co-ordinator Lukas Farfalla said the FReeZA grant was set up to fund the group for another three years and help provide hands-on experience for teenagers who wanted to work in the music industry.
“We have a committee of young people within the community that are interested in dance, music and cultural events and the money will go towards giving them experience to hold events and show,” Mr Farfalla said.
“If they are interested in putting on a rock show or a concert, we get them to do the pre-planning and organise all of that.”
Mr Farfalla said many of the group members were now working in the entertainment industry or had started their own music business.
He encouraged other young people living in the area to get involved and gain valuable work experience.
“If there are new people who are interested to come on board, they can come to a meeting and see how it’s like and then the senior members will start training them,” he said.
Western Metropolitan MP Bernie Finn congratulated Noise construction and four other groups in the western and northern suburbs who received funding as part of the State Government’s FReeZA grant program.
Mr Finn said the groups would be in a better position to enhance their creative skills and to become more involved in the music scene.
“Through this program young people have been given a wonderful opportunity, not only to perform in front of a live audience, but to further develop their skills and learn more about event management,” he said.
For more information about Noise Construction visit www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au
