SongMakers

SongMakers 2025: Musical Magic in the Making!

On 20-21 February, Wheelers Hill Secondary College was buzzing with creativity as we participated in the SongMakers program! This incredible two-day workshop transformed our music department into a professional recording studio where students created original music alongside industry stars. This fantastic initiative by APRA AMCOS and Creative Victoria has been running for a couple of years with around 35 schools each year statewide - and we were lucky enough to be one of them again this year!

What is SongMakers?

SongMakers immerses students in songwriting, recording, and production by bringing Australia's leading music professionals into schools, offering students a collaborative environment and insights into the contemporary music industry.

The Creative Process

The workshop kicked off with students diving into songwriting techniques from our fantastic industry mentors: Rromarin, Jackson Phelan, and Alice Ivy, with Hayden Lauersen joining the team for day two.

Meet the Mentors

Alice Ivy (Annika Schmarsel): The incredible ARIA-nominated producer and songwriter who's lit up stages across four continents with over 300 shows! With three studio albums and more than 60 million streams worldwide, Alice brings a wealth of experience to our students. Her 2020 album 'Don't Sleep' earned ARIA nominations, while her 2024 release 'Do What Makes You Happy' took home the ARIA Award for Australian Dance Album.

Rromarin (Claire Rayner): An amazing ARIA-nominated vocalist and songwriter who's collaborated with industry stars like Golden Features, Solomun, and The Presets. Claire's distinctive voice and songwriting talent have earned her over 25 million Spotify streams! She's a regular at prestigious events like the Sony MMW Songwriting Camp and APRA SongHubs.

Jackson Phelan: This talented Melbourne-based artist is the creative force behind indie rock sensation RAT!hammock. Jackson's musical journey has taken him on national tours with Spacey Jane, Ball Park Music, and King Stingray. His band's debut anthology received both critical acclaim and major radio airplay, making him the perfect mentor for aspiring musicians.

Hayden Lauersen: Joining us on day two, Hayden is one of Melbourne's most sought-after mix engineers and vocal producers. He's worked with impressive artists like Tentendo, Sophiya, and Woodes, amassing over 30 million Spotify streams! His experience as a live music director at events like SXSW and Splendour In The Grass gave our students invaluable insights into music production and performance.

Students formed four cross-year-level bands:

Band 1: Mika (9), Joseph (11), Amelie (9), Benji (10)

Band 2: Abby (10), Adriano (9), Liam (12), Milan (9)

Band 3: Jayda (9), Lachlan (10), Bowen (9), Nick (11)

Band 4: Zara (9), Nicole (9), Maia (10), Ellie (12)

Day two was even more exciting! Each band worked with our mentors to record their songs using professional equipment that would make any recording studio proud. The energy was electric as students captured their musical creations with guidance from industry pros. Between recording sessions, our budding musicians chatted with mentors about life in the music industry and potential career paths - conversations many students described as eye-opening and inspiring.

The Impact

Students own their original songs and can upload them to streaming platforms like Spotify to potentially earn royalties. SongMakers equips students with:

• Professional music-making experience
• Enhanced collaboration skills
• Industry insights
• Understanding of music career pathways
• Increased creative confidence

Experience the Music

Listen to the students' tracks here:SongMakers 2025 Tracks

Huge congratulations to all our talented participants and a massive thank you to Rromarin, Jackson Phelan, Alice Ivy, and Hayden Lauersen for their exceptional mentorship and infectious enthusiasm! Being selected for this amazing program reflects Wheelers Hill Secondary College's commitment to authentic learning experiences that connect classroom education with real-world applications.

David Gill

Leading Teacher of Community Connections and Student Voice