A hand up for music student

GOING PLACES: Stella Maris says a $1500 scholarship will be a "huge help". PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 230114SP8

Growing up as a middle child of eight children, Stella Maris was used to vying for attention.

It's a trait that has served her well as the 18-year-old develops her love of performing into a career.

The teenager is about to begin studying a Diploma in Contemporary Music and that study has just gotten easier thanks to a Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and Waiariki Institute of Technology Whare Takiura Scholarship.

Fourteen scholarships were handed out at a function last night for students studying at Waiariki Institute of Technology.

Miss Maris said the $1500 would be a "huge help".

While she's been performing since she was young and throughout her school years, Miss Maris said formally studying music and performing has taught her plenty.

"There's a whole world we are unaware of when it comes to music. It's been amazing."

Miss Maris said she was passionate about writing her own music and developing her own sound. She didn't want to be just known as a singer/songwriter but also as a musician.

"I've been songwriting, performing and doing music for a really long time because I'm so passionate about it."

She also plays several instruments including the drums and guitar, which she hopes will give her the edge in the industry.

Miss Maris said her focus was on performing her own music, not covering someone else's work. However, she said she drew inspiration from genres including rock and country.

This weekend she'll perform at the Okere Falls Festival.

"I love to tell stories and experiences I have that are relevant to others."

Miss Maris said there were definitely challenges in the industry but it was about being "your unique self"'.

She said she was unsure what she'd do after her year-long diploma but wasn't ruling out further study. "Plans come down to opportunities. I might choose to leave studying if an opportunity came up."

Others to be awarded scholarships last night included Stephanie Adlam, Turuturu Bidois, Kyle Burling, Kathryn Clark, George Czabania, Kevin Hollingsworth, Charmaine Jensen, Brendon Loughnane, Kelly McNab, Nicole Pakau, Kim Saunders, Danielle Sutton and Michele Weston.