APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW
Girls Rock Aotearoa has been helping young women, transgender, intersex and gender-non-conforming youth form bands, build instrumental skills, and write original songs since 2018, and now our 2022 programme is back with a new name: To The Front Tāmaki Makaurau.
Girls Rock Aotearoa has been helping young women, transgender, intersex and gender-non-conforming youth form bands, build instrumental skills, and write original songs since 2018, and now our 2022 programme is back with a new name: To The Front Tāmaki Makaurau.
THE PROGRAMME
Held Monday 10 January to Saturday 15 January 2022, To The Front is open to youth aged 12-17 years who are women, and/or intersex, transgender, or gender non-conforming. They’ll learn instruments, form bands, write original songs, and perform at a showcase, all guided by professional musicians in a women-led environment. Alongside collaborative learning, participants will take part in workshops about DIY merchandise, mindfulness, and performance skills. Each day they’ll enjoy lunchtime performances from local artists. Once again the programme will be hosted by our key sponsor, SAE Creative Media Institute Auckland, allowing us access to their state of the art recording studios and equipment. 2022 also sees the continuation of last year’s successful electronic stream, where campers had the opportunity to get hands on with digital music production.
THE PROGRAMME
Held Monday 10 January to Saturday 15 January 2022, To The Front is open to youth aged 12-17 years who are women, and/or intersex, transgender, or gender non-conforming. They’ll learn instruments, form bands, write original songs, and perform at a showcase, all guided by professional musicians in a women-led environment. Alongside collaborative learning, participants will take part in workshops about DIY merchandise, mindfulness, and performance skills. Each day they’ll enjoy lunchtime performances from local artists. Once again the programme will be hosted by our key sponsor, SAE Creative Media Institute Auckland, allowing us access to their state of the art recording studios and equipment. 2022 also sees the continuation of last year’s successful electronic stream, where campers had the opportunity to get hands on with digital music production.
Intern Programme
If you’ve already been a part of Girls Rock/To The Front and want to challenge yourself to try something new, we’re looking for 16-18 year-olds to be a part of our intern programme, developing our next generation of To The Front organizers.
As well as helping out coordinators with day-to-day operations, you’ll participate in specialty workshops illuminating paths for music beyond high school, form an intern band to perform at our showcase, and develop new networks by getting to know our coordinators, mentors, and your fellow interns.
TO THE FRONT
The name came about in order to recognise and emphasise the diverse nature of the initiative. Organiser Ali Burns explains…
“Given the holiday programme is neither just for girls or just about rock music we decided a rebrand was in order to ensure everyone involved felt absolutely welcome and comfortable. We will still be keeping Girls Rock! Aotearoa as the overarching organisation name, but our Pōneke holiday programme going forward will be called To the Front”.
The To The Front name, gives a nod to the Riot Grrrl movement of the 90’s, a feminist punk movement where the term was popularised by bands such as Bikini Kills as a way to encourage a safe space for women and gender minorities in the audience.
TO THE FRONT
The name came about in order to recognise and emphasise the diverse nature of the initiative. Organiser Ali Burns explains…
“Given the holiday programme is neither just for girls or just about rock music we decided a rebrand was in order to ensure everyone involved felt absolutely welcome and comfortable. We will still be keeping Girls Rock! Aotearoa as the overarching organisation name, but our Pōneke holiday programme going forward will be called To the Front”.
The To The Front name, gives a nod to the Riot Grrrl movement of the 90’s, a feminist punk movement where the term was popularised by bands such as Bikini Kills as a way to encourage a safe space for women and gender minorities in the audience.
IMPORTANT INFO
- To The Front is a paid holiday program with an allocation of financial assistance available for low-income families.
- Applicants don’t need any previous musical experience and participants will be at all different levels.
- To the Front runs from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, with a showcase on Saturday, 1pm to 3pm.
- For more information on mentor and volunteer roles, see the application form below.
- See participant terms and conditions here or below.
