Hit pop group Human Nature, TV musical director and composer John Foreman, jazz singer Emma Pask, chart topping recording artist Paulini, international recording duo Angus and Julia Stone, country music award winners Felicity Urquhart, Darren Coggan, Jedd Hughes, Travis Collins and The McClymonts, music theatre star David Harris … across every facet of the entertainment industry, these artists all have one thing in common: they all broke into show business via the TDP.

Launched in 1992 with the assistance of government and private enterprise, the Talent Development Project is a unique scheme that provides the opportunity for exceptionally talented young performers to work alongside some of the Australian music industry’s most distinguished identities.

The program utilizes the expertise of over 80 consultants, all top industry professionals, to help aspiring performers realize their ambitions of a performing career. The TDP’s Artistic Director, Mary Lopez, devised the training program and constantly updates and oversees it. It is Mary’s uncanny ability to recognize and nurture emerging talent that gives TDP its unrivalled reputation.

Most graduates have been successful in gaining professional recognition, and many have achieved high accolades in the industry’s highest awards, winning Arias, Mo Awards and Golden Guitars.

Prominent Australians make up the TDP Board and Council – patrons Margaret Whitlam AO, and Kevin Jacobsen OAM; Board members The Hon Brown AO, Michael Coutts-Trotter, Anne Fitzgerald, Tony Garnett OAM, Michael Jacobsen, Alan Jones AO, Mary Lopez AM and Matthew MacDougall (chairman); and Friends of the TDP Dawn Fraser AO, MBE, Ken Hurst, Hon Douglas McClelland AC and John Singleton.

Amongst the successful graduates from the Talent Development Project with recording, music theatre or television careers are ...