You could say that School of Rock Macarthur is a bit of an overnight success. But as founder Ken Martin tells it, like everything else it took years to gain the recognition it deserved.
Exactly 10 years after Martin, a musician himself, and his partner Angela, took the plunge and established Australia’s first School of Rock, a big award came their way from the headquarters of School of Rock in the USA.
It was the 2024 School of Rock Headliner award, which acknowledged their schools across the world that have gone above and beyond to support their students.
Campbelltown City Council last week put on a civic reception at the arts centre for Ken, Angela and their team of music teachers and students to celebrate the prestigious honour.
“The award was recognition for something we’ve always known,’’ Ken Martin told the gathering.
“Music has transformed the lives of our students, so School of Rock Macarthur is not just about music – it changes lives, and we are proud of that,’’ he said.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Darcy Lound, presented Ken Martin (pictured above) with a community service award for School of Rock Macarthur on the night for their “fantastic achievement’’.
“They put Campbelltown on the international map with this award,’’ Mayor Lound said.
“It makes me really proud, and I congratulate them on this outstanding success.
“They have helped countless musicians since they were established in Campbelltown,’’ he said.
But as Ken Martin pointed out on the night, on a practical level, School of Rock Macarthur has also provided employment for almost 50 local musicians over the past 11 years.
The School of Rock initiative was formed in the USA almost 30 years ago to provide performance-based music education for people of all ages and skill levels.
But certainly here in Macarthur, the first ever Australian version of School of Rock is doing much more than just teaching music to those who walk through its doors in Warby Street.
