3MBS’s The Talent Returns for Series 2

After a hugely successful first series, The Talent, 3MBS’s live to air performance programs for emerging musicians, is returning with 24 episodes starting Tuesday 11 November.

These programs will be available to stations for local rebroadcast through the Community Radio Network program distribution service, through the Fine Music Live slot from Sunday 16 November.

The Talent gives young performers the opportunity to be involved in a live performance as well as receive feedback and critique from some of Melbourne’s most respected professional musicians in an interview format. Each week there are two separate performances, covering a wide range of instruments and including ensembles. A resident panellist is joined each week by a guest panel member chosen based on their experience in a particular style, genre, or instrument type.

Receiving support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation and the Robert Salzer Foundation, The Talent was also recently nominated for a 2014 CBAA Award for ‘Excellence in Community Participation’. The listeners are able to vote for their favourite performer and comment on each program via a dedicated website – thetalent3mbs.com. There is also a strong following on social media where listeners can engage directly with the producers, presenters and performers.

The listener votes, along with the scores given by the panel members, are collated and 10 performer or ensembles will be invited to take part in Round 2 – the final six episodes of the program.

The first six episode of The Talent include performances by a string quartet, piano players, a guitarist and a female vocal duo. Panelists feature resident pane member Blair Harris (cellist, Syzygy ensemble), Rachael Beesley (violinist, Ironwood ensemble), Merlyn Quaife (soprano), Rosmund Illing (soprano) and pianists Leigh Harrold and Amir Farid.

Playing nationally on CRN live-via-satellite Sundays from 18:00 EDT. For more information contact CRN staff at the CBAA office on 02 9310 2999 or email [email protected].

Series One winners. L-R: Arthur Athan - Winner (piano), Tim Matthews Staindl  - 2nd Place (member of Tacet Vocal Quartet), Daniel Carison - 3rd Place (bass baritone) & Christian Smith - 2nd Place (Tacet)