Debut EP "Well Kept Woman" available from gigs or email [email protected]
Originally from New Zealand, Anna Gilkison was lucky enough to be born into a very musical family. From an early age, a love and appreciation of many different styles of music was firmly instilled in her. Studies in piano, trumpet and tuba fired up her interest in performing, but it wasn’t until being plonked in front of a big band aged 13 that she found her true passion – singing.
Anna commenced formal lessons with Glenda Walsh , which led to her joining the now defunct, Melbourne based trad jazz band, "The Hot Jam Doughnuts" while still in high school. Highlights include performing at the Kyneton Classic Jazz and Ragtime Festival (Oct 2002) and recording an album "Get Your Kicks" in April 2003. After studying music all through high school, Anna was accepted into the jazz course at Monash University to study her Bachelor of Music. As part of her degree, she has studied with Alison Wedding , Julie O’Hara and Emma Gilmartin .
Over the years Anna has sung with various Melbourne based big bands, including The Blackburn High Stage Band, WASABI, The Monash University Music Department Big Band, MOJO and Matt Amy’s Really Big Band at venues such as Manchester Lane, Dizzy’s Jazz Bar, BMW Edge - Federation Square as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (2004 and 2007) and as a part of the 98 Hours of Jazz gig - an attempt to break the world record of continuous live jazz in 2005. Anna has also performed as part of the 2007 Wangaratta Jazz Festival.
Anna also heads her own quintet (AGQ) and an original music project with acclaimed Melbourne pianist, Adam Rudegeair , which has performed all over Melbourne, at Dizzy’s Jazz Bar, The Paris Cat, Bennett’s Lane, Scarlette Bar, Arthur’s, Crown Casino and The Grand Hyatt. Anna is also one of the vocalists alongside Henry Manetta in Rhymes with Donkey , an all original funk band – who have just recorded an EP.
Having completing her Bachelor of Music at Monash University in June 2007, Anna is currently undertaking her Gradute Diploma of Education and teaching singing and piano around Melbourne. Anna and the Band are also currently working on new original material to be recorded live in November 2008. To contact Anna, email her at [email protected]
"A high spot was… vocalist Anna Gilkison who faultlessly delivered…" John McBeath – Adelaide Advertiser
"Gilkison’s sweet-perfect jazz notes are made so right..." Helen Milte Bastow – Inpress Magazine
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