More than 300 young people from across Victoria gathered at Melbourne Recital Centre on Monday 13 April for The Push’s annual Amplify Summit – a day dedicated to building skills, sharing ideas and exploring pathways into the arts, events and music industry.
The Summit brought together participants from 61 Amplify Committees spanning metropolitan, regional and rural communities – many meeting face-to-face for the first time – for a full day of workshops, conversations and connection.
Delivered by youth music organisation The Push, in partnership with the Melbourne Recital Centre, Amplify supports young people to plan and produce live all-ages music events in their local communities – giving them hands-on experience across everything from booking artists and marketing shows to running sound and managing events.
The Push Chief Executive Officer Kate Duncan said Amplify continues to play a vital role in supporting young people to build skills and confidence within the music industry.
“The Amplify Summit brings young people together to connect, hear directly from artists and industry professionals, and build the skills they need to stage live music events in their own communities. They leave with real experience, new networks and the confidence to turn ideas into something tangible,” said Kate Duncan.
Returning to Melbourne Recital Centre for the second consecutive year, the free event offered direct access to industry professionals alongside practical sessions designed to build confidence and real-world skills.
As one of Melbourne’s leading live music venues, Melbourne Recital Centre plays an important role in connecting communities with music – not only through performance, but through a wide range of learning, access and participation programs that open up the arts to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Melbourne Recital Centre Chief Executive Officer Sandra Willis said the Summit reflects the Centre’s commitment to supporting emerging talent and strengthening connections across Victoria’s music community.
“Melbourne Recital Centre exists to connect people through live music – and that includes creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation to engage, learn and participate,” said Ms Willis.
“Bringing together and investing in young people from across metropolitan, regional and rural communities creates a powerful sense of connection, and opens up pathways into an industry that can sometimes feel out of reach.”
For participants, the Summit offers a rare opportunity to connect with peers and gain hands-on experience in a professional setting. Taya Barbuto, a member of the Geelong Amplify Committee, said the program has helped shape her pathway into the industry.
“Having attended the summit over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to try different roles and get a real sense of what working in the music industry could look like,” said Taya Barbuto.
“I now run social media promoting local gigs in Geelong and manage content for a couple of bands, so it’s been a really practical pathway. Being in a room with people from all over Victoria who are doing similar things is really motivating – especially for those of us coming from regional areas.”
Presented by The Push in partnership with Melbourne Recital Centre, the Amplify program is supported by the Victorian Government, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting the next generation of music talent across Victoria.
Image: The Amplify Summit – photo by Jacinta Keefe