Grace McGregor can't remember a time when music wasn't the centre of her life.
She began singing at the age of 6 and playing the guitar when she was 11. She is entirely self-taught.
But Miss McGregor was astonished to win the solo/duo section of the Wanganui regional final ofthe Smokefreerockquest at the Royal Wanganui Opera House on May 23.
She also won the people's choice award, and has the opportunity to go on to the national Smokefreerockquest finals.
"It's the first time I'd taken part in the competition, and everyone was amping me up beforehand and telling me I was going to win. But I knew I was up against some really good musicians.
Her oldest sibling, brother Quin, is one-third of The Black Trio, which made the finals of New Zealand's Got Talent last year.
"When my family gets together there's always a guitar involved," she said.
It's not surprising she names her family first when asked about her musical inspirations. She's also inspired by musicians at Faith City.
When she's not playing music or writing music she likes to listen to alternative and indie music - the Arctic Monkeys is currently on her playlist.
Miss McGregor writes songs about "anything" and keeps her ideas in a notebook, where she creates mind maps that eventually become lyrics.
The Wanganui High School Year 13 student is laid-back about her future - she wants to have a gap year in 2015, then begin studies at either a music school or Toi Whakaari [the New Zealand Drama School].
"I'll definitely end up doing something involving music. It would be hard not to."
Photo Gallery
Image 1 of 19: Connor Eades, The Backstage Hazards, Wanganui High School.
.May 2014 Wanganui Chronicle Photograph by Lewis Gardner
