Young artists ready to shine

Published: 4 December 2011
By: Selina Venier

Two peas in a musical pod: Friends Annie Wilson (left) and Chiara Keady

TWO 12-year-old Brisbane friends have shone like never before and received a national award for an original song.

Chiara Keady and Rhiannon (Annie) Wilson, students at Holy Family Catholic Parish School, Indooroopilly, took a school "theme" and wrote about it musically.

The girls have combined their love of God and music before and spoke of how Shine came about.

"Our performing arts teacher Mrs Chapman asked me and Rhiannon to write a song about the Year 7 theme," Chiara said.

"So I came up with a tune and showed it to Rhiannon ... (and) then started to write the lyrics."

The verses of Shine are about the people who "inspire" them - Bethany Hamilton, Martin Luther King, Stevie Wonder and Blessed Mother Teresa.

"I want it to show that everyone can shine and that even you can shine like all these famous people," Chiara said.

"It's about four people who shone in their own way and they are examples of how you can shine," Annie added.

The national award was from the Wakakirri arts contest.

Holy Family school also won first place with a song called, Mummy.

The girls were pleased to offer positive messages through Shine and are planning an iTunes release.

"It felt good knowing that the song that we wrote was good," Chiara said.

"I also love singing so even if my song came last, it was all worth the trouble just to record it."

Annie said "it feels good that the message is getting out to other people".

Kym Keady, who works for NET (National Evangelisation Teams) Ministries, says the families "are so proud".

"Really this song is a testament to Chiara and Annie and their friendship and how they complement each other," she said.

"(And) no matter what happens in the future their friendship is of utmost importance to all of us as the parents."

Patrick Keady, a leading musician in Brisbane archdiocese, who is from emmanuelworship, said Shine was "just a great song".

"It grooves along in a catchy 'Motown' kind of way," he said.

"(But) the thing that impresses me most is how the girls see their heroes as people of faith - Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, and teenage 'soul surfer' Bethany Hamilton.

"The way they wrote about each person made it obvious that they 'get it' - they understand the power of faith to change the world."

Chantale and Arthur Wilson are also praising the girls' efforts and talents.

"It's moments like these when you realise it's not the fear of your child failing that's scary," Chantale said.

"... It's the fear of your children's success that's even more scary."(And) I hope the girls go on to write many more songs together."

Amanda Carr, from the Boston Pops (in Boston), visited the Holy Family school and said Shine "has universal appeal".

Kym said Ms Carr promised to help Chiara and Annie "take it further", offering professional "jazz backing" for the musical release of Shine.