Gemma is the winner of the Cindy Shelton Scholarship 2009.

Bio provided by Gemma Leonard

Musical achievements to date:

Musical training:
- Tailem Bend - Murraylands Music Festival Talent Quest ’07 - Singing Lessons on and off from the age of 4yrs-13yrs
- Champion of Champions ‘07 - this includes general or classical singing lessons
- Music Challenge Circuit at school ’08 - continuously for the past four years.
- School Musical Production ‘09  - Bass Guitar Lessons for the past two years
- Plays for family & friends whenever possible - Piano Lessons at the ages five – seven yrs
- Battle of the Bands, Murray Bridge ’09 Winners -16 & under
- Lead singer of a band named “Generation Why” and as the Band puts it she is the boss, even with the other three members aged 15yrs and nearly 2yrs older ‘09.

Although Gemma has not been actively involved with the Country Music scene other than the above mentioned achievements, this is largely due to her age and her other commitments with her sport. Although it may seem that she has already an over load of activities it is now apparent that she is ready to move back to her first love of music. She is now able to take with her the many skills that she has learnt for her young age.

These skills include:-
- Dealing with the combination of successes and failures
- Team work, whether it is in sport or a band/music situation
- Staying positive and performing even when feeling pressured
- Leadership abilities. - Hard work, preparation, commitment and perseverance
- Dealing with problems that may arise and pulling those around her together to overcome the situation
- Coping with performing with and without the involvement of family and friends, especially when competing in a Squad/band situation that does or doesn’t allow this interaction or open support.

Gifted individual Musician

Vocal and Bass Guitar

Sport - Basketball which she plays at a Local Competition, Local Representative, SA Country State Team Representative competing at Albury in 2008 and Port Macquarie in 2009, Adelaide Districts and SA

Sport Institute national identification and development level.

Student - an A level student receiving academic awards each term and annually. Last year received the community award taken from all the children in her year level, this was chosen by her teachers and school community for her ability to assist her fellow students, teachers, coaches and administrators within and outside of her school at Unity Lutheran College, Murray Bridge.

Gemma has always had a great passion for music and has been singing or playing one instrument or another since the age of 4. Due to her parents’ lack of musical knowledge, she and her brother William, who is two years her senior and a gifted guitarist, plus the lead guitarist in their band “Generation Why”, have found their way with very little assistance. They have a great system for song writing with Gemma writing the lyrics and melody with William creating and playing along with the guitar, all good fun.

Gemma gets a kick out of the response she gets from her lyrics and has a very mature grasp of the emotions required to make it work. She also has the ability to transfer her experiences and those around her to words and lyrics that the listener regardless of age can relate to. In the six week build up to Battle of the Bands (Murray Bridge) on the 4/04/09 she wrote or co-wrote four songs to performance level which they performed on the night to take out the junior section.

Gemma at Champion of Champions 2008