Take Note leader Holly Moore’s advice for artists: “Back yourself!”
With applications for the Take Note program closing on 2 February, we caught up with the 2020 leader of the program Holly Moore. We wanted to know how Take Note has impacted her career and what advice she has for emerging artists.
What did you love about Take Note?
I was able to really focus on my composition and teaching which has given me far greater clarity for my career aspirations and goals that were a little hazy before. The opportunity for this kind of focused work doesn’t come along all that often – especially early in a musician’s career – so it was really valuable to just have the time and resources to hone some skills and really engage with what I love to do. Working with the festival was great, everybody is so lovely!
What did you gain from the experience that you didn’t have before?
Confidence! Being selected for Take Note was a “yep, I’m in the right place, music is my career – and I can DO this” moment for me.
What do you hope the students gained from the workshop series?
I hope it sparked an interest in jazz for them and has given them a starting point for their practice and listening. I hope they’ll also have a better understanding of what a career in music looks like.
How has the Take Note program impacted your career/trajectory?
It’s impacted my career in a hugely positive way. Getting my music out there and developing connections with people in the industry has been great.
What is your advice for young musicians?
Keep working hard and practicing – it’s worth it! Reach out to people you admire, ask questions, connect with your peers, go out to see music and try to play as much as possible.
What is your advice for Take Note applicants?
Go for it! Try to develop a clear idea of what you want to achieve in the year and back yourself!
Take Note is a gender equity and artist development program run annually by MIJF. Each year, we select an early career female* leader in jazz to head up the program. They receive a $5,000 cash bursary, supported by APRA AMCOS, to support the development of a new work to be performed at MIJF. In addition to this, we tailor a career development package to help them take their career to the next level.
The Take Note leader will also help inspire the next generation of leaders in jazz by embarking on a tour of regional and metropolitan high schools in Victoria to host workshops and show young musicians what a career in music can look like.
Want to know more and find out how to apply? Click here. Applications close on 2 February.
*MIJF acknowledges that gender is a diverse spectrum and when referring to women and men it includes those who identify as female and male, and those who are trans, intersex and gender non-conforming.