Young aspiring musician Charlie Youngson set to take on WA’s Fairbridge Songwriting competition

A Bunbury Year 12 student with a passion for music has been selected as a finalist in one of the State’s most popular youth songwriting competitions. Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School student Charlie Youngson was nominated as one of 12 young songwriters set to compete in the final of the Fairbridge Quest Youth Songwriting competition. The Fairbridge Quest Youth Songwriting competition is a Statewide competition for original songwriters aged between 12 and 18, with the chance to win a performance slot at Fairbridge Festival 2023, a day in the studio at Elemental Sound, a professional photoshoot with Tashi Hal. Charlie started playing guitar at age of eight and through his schooling has developed his singing and songwriting skills, while also learning to play the saxophone. At his home in Bridgetown, Charlie has developed is own small recording and has since worked with the music teachers at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School to set one up at school. Charlie said the chance to study music through his schooling has helped him start his career in music. “Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School has played a big role in developing my musical journey and has given me lots of opportunities to grow and expand my skills and knowledge. Now, I have been able to complete my certificate 3 in music,” said Charlie. Following the Fairbridge Quest Youth Songwriting competition, Charlie hopes to continue producing more music with hopes to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. “I am self-taught, so seeing how it works in the professional industry would be really interesting,” said Charlie. The 12 finalists were set to perform in The Edith Spiegeltent at the ECU Mount Lawley campus on Sunday, May 8.