Tony O'Rourke

I didn’t really come from a musical family and it wasn’t until I joined my school choir that I discovered a real passion for singing.

I had always been a bit of a comedian but when I started to sing that’s when the stage came to life.
When I was at high school,  EXCEL School of Performing Arts came to perform and I loved what they did and said to myself “I want to go there and do what they’re doing.”.

And now I’m halfway through a Certificate of Performance in Music.  I’m majoring in Vocals but I’m also able to study Guitar as a minor which is a real bonus.

Being at EXCEL has made me realise that singing is not as easy as I thought it was.  I had already formed an acapella group with a few friends, but I was amazed to discover how much I needed to learn about controlling my breathing and placing my notes.  

It’s been practice, practice, practice but I remember someone telling me that you either have to experience the pain of discipline or it’s the pain of disappointment.  

So now I’m going hard and I want to get selected for the 2nd year program here at EXCEL and be part of the tour around New Zealand in 2010.