Eight music-focused Victorian students are about to have their career hopes turbocharged thanks to a music acceleration program run by Melbourne Recital Centre.

After a series of auditions, the students selected for this year’s Accelerando program are: Bodhi Trebilcock-Taylor (drum kit); Courtney McMullan (voice and guitar); Claire Darrigan (flute); Raiyan Galvin (guitar); Kat Dunshea, (voice); Gus Crannaford (electric bass); Georgia Sustenance (voice) and Thomas Dower (vibraphone).

L-R: Claire Darrigan, Kat Dunshea, Georgia Sustenance, Thomas Dower, Bodhi Trebilcock-Taylor, Gus Crannaford, Raiyan Galvin and Courtney McMullan

Bringing together a diverse cross-section of outstanding young talents from across the state, the Accelerando program provides emerging musicians with a year-long tailored learning outline to help them hone their craft and build a career in their chosen field of music. Students accepted into the program have the opportunity to attend lessons with leading industry professionals, take in concerts and masterclasses, access high-quality music technology and perform in an end of year recital in Melbourne Recital Centre’s Primrose Potter Salon.

Courtney McMullan (bottom row, far right) is a guitarist and singer-songwriter whose indie-rock band Birddog was signed by the Gold Coast-based indie label Dark Escapes when...