Elke Seaborn

Hi I'm Elke! I'm 22 years old and I live in Adelaide, Australia with my parents and younger brother, Anton! I love Australia, we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful, diverse, multicultural, unique country!!! And I love Adelaide! It will always be my home! I don't think I'd like living in a big city after living in Adelaide!
As my dad is a classical guitar teacher, composer and lover of all types of music, I have always been surrounded by music! My dad got me started early, at the age of three I began violin lessons. But three is very young and Dad feared that he would ruin music for me if he pushed me too much, so he let me stop when I'd had enough.
When I was five, I started group keyboard lessons. I never got very good, but I am sure it helped develop my ear for later on! From then on I had piano lessons on and off till I was about 13, but although I love the instrument, it just wasn't right for me!
I started cello lessons at 10 years old and had a fantastic time playing in ensembles, orchestras and doing duets with a close friend. But as I got older, due to health reasons, I found it too tiring and had to give up lessons. I still love the cello and every now and then get it out for a play! It is a beautiful instrument!
I was very lucky to successfully audition for a spot in Marryatville Highschool's specialist music program for my teenage years! It's a full on course of all areas of music with a fantastic set of teachers! Although I learned a lot, I wish I had been well enough to take full advantage of it!
When I was about 14, I started to take an interest in the guitar- all of my dad's music finally rubbed off on me! I had lessons for a short time, but I ended up teaching myself and just asking my dad when I was unsure. I love the guitar, it's perfect for me as you can just laze around on the couch with it and still achieve something! I'm classically trained in guitar, as is my dad, but that doesn't mean I only like and play classical music!!! I love all genres of music, just as long as it's good- I'm pretty picky though!
I have a couple of young guitar students at the moment and I enjoy teaching them. If things don't work out with my music, teaching will be my back-up plan. Either normal Primary School teaching or classroom music teaching with private guitar teaching on the side. I love kids and I love passing on the love of music and guitar!!!
But my real passion is singing!!! It's what I want to do with my life!!! I've never really had lessons or training, I'm pretty much self taught! I was in choirs all through primary school and managed to score a few solos for big performances. I think that's when I started to take notice of my voice and actually think about my singing instead of just doing it, which most people do.
I also love to write/compose! I'm still not a very confident writer and haven't quite worked out what works best for me, but I love the creative process!!!
In 2005, I was astounded to be chosen as one of five finalists in the Glenn Shorrock Music Awards which Dad entered me in. I had to sing at the Lyndoch Uncorked afternoon in front of a large crowd! It was very exciting and nerve racking as there were well known musos there, such as Glenn Shorrock himself, Brian Cadd and others. There I met Catherine Lambert who has taken me under her wing for a while and become my mentor. She's an absolute legend!!! I was very lucky to be asked to sing back-up for her at the 2005 Adelaide Cabaret Festival- had a blast!!! I would love to experience being apart of my own band some day!
I'm a huge animal/nature lover and have 2 dogs, & a cat! Harley is a golden Labrador who we got 3 years ago to help cope with the loss of my childhood dog Chester (a Golden Retriever) and he has become everything I ever wanted! He's such a clown and a big baby! He's made my life a lot more fun! Monty is a Silky/Chihuahua. He's not my sort of dog really- I like bigger, smarter dogs; but I love him all the same! Mascara, my cat, we picked up at the Animal Welfare League at 2 years old. As soon as I saw her, I knew she was the one for me! She's black with striking green eyes. I hadn't had a cat since I was little- you forget how different they are to dogs. She is such a little princess!
I have a great family life- I'm very lucky. My parents are 30+ years married and still going strong- too strong sometimes! And my brother Anton, is just as music crazy as I am- he plays bass guitar! But we have our fights & problems as everyone else does! I also have a fantastic extended family, I wish we could see them all more often!
A big part of my life is something I wish not to be- I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This has stopped me from being able to study properly, getting a proper job or even a social life. It's hard as I'm totally dependent on my parents. My mum looks after me a lot as sometimes I can be so bad I can't get out of bed. I'm very lucky to have her, we're very close!
Anyhoo, thanks for reading & listening!!! Elke xx