Kool Skools

Kool Skools is a multimedia and recording project for secondary school students across the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales. The projects are open to all secondary schools, council youth agencies and youth clubs. Kool Skools promotes, develops and supports a diverse range of talent and genres of contemporary music. Participants of Kool Skools have the opportunity to work within a professional recording environment to record and package an album of music. At the end of each year an awards night is held where participants have the opportunity to perform some of their songs and are recognised for their work throughout the year.

High profile participants with professional releases

Missy Higgins
Delta Goodrem
Tom Ugly
Anthony Callea
The Cat Empire (group)
Dean Geyer
Casey Donovan
Axle Whitehead
White Summer
The Mellows
Say Please
The Quarters
Shane Price
Tim Wheatley
Natasha Duarte
Marc Collis
Anna Mannering
Jordie Lane

JB HiFi Music Prize Recipients

2007: The Heave (NSW)

2007: [is] Featuring Tom Ugly

2008: Bad Day's Goodnight featuring Natasha Duarté (NSW)

2008: Zygotic (NSW)

2009: Unsafe Thort (VIC)

2009: No Pressure (NSW)

2010: The Kalaharis (VIC)

2010: The Chestnuts (NSW)

2011: The Razz (VIC)

2011: Jeff (NSW)

2012: Kelebec (NSW) 2013: Natasha Eloise (NSW)

2013: Bonney Ranch (VIC)

2014: The Mellows (VIC)

2014: SheWolf (VIC)

2015: Cooper Lower (VIC)

Koolest Skool Award winners

Victoria

2023: TBA NOV 2023
2022: Mt Lilydale Mercy College
2021: Awards This year was cancelled due to the Covid 19 Pandemic
2020: Awards This year was cancelled due to the Covid 19 Pandemic
2019: Victory Christian College
2018: Mount Lilydale Mercy College
2017: Mill Park Secondary College
2016: Mount Lilydale Mercy College
2015: Mill Park Secondary College
2014: Emmanuel College, Warrnambool
2013: Thomastown SC
2012: Notre Dame College
2011: Albury Youth Cafe (a combination of Albury/Wodonga schools)
2010: Copperfield College
2009: Thomastown Secondary College
2008: Noble Park Secondary College
2007: Notre Dame College
2006: Geelong Grammar
2005: Notre Dame College
2004: Thomastown Secondary College
2003: Pakenham Secondary College
2002: Wangaratta High School
2001: Heathdale Christian College
2000: East Gippsland Schools, including Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale
1999: Wangaratta High School
1998: Billanook College
1997: Swinburne Snr Secondary College

New South Wales

2023; Project Pending Reinstatement post Covid 19 Interruption
2021: Cancelled year due to Covid 19 Pandemic
2020: Cancelled year due to Covid 19 Pandemic
2019: Cancelled due to Sydney Studio closure
2018: Canterbury Girls High School
2017: Canterbury Girls High School
2016: Mackellar Girls Campus
2015: Mackellar Girls Campus
2014: St Andrews College
2013: N/A
2012: N/A
2011: Brisbane Water Secondary College
2010: Fairfield City Council, Bring It On Festival
2009: Brisbane Waters Secondary College
2008: Manly Council Youth Services
2007: Brisbane Water Secondary College
2006: Loseby Park Youth Centre
2005: Mackellar Girls Campus
2004: (not held in NSW in 2004)
2003: Brisbane Water Secondary College
2002: Brisbane Water Secondary College
2001: Prairiewood Languages High School
2000: Port Hacking High School

Recording Studios Involved

Melbourne, Victoria

Studio 52 1997–2019
Empire Music Studios (previously Studio 52, new facilities at Heidelberg West, VIC) - 2019 onwards

Sydney, NSW

Velvet Sound 2000 - 2004
Troy Horse Studios 2005 - 2010
Megaphon Studios 2011 - 2016
Music Feeds Studios 2017 - 2018

Hobart, Tasmania

Red Planet. 2003 - 2006

Adelaide, SA

Fat Trax 2003 - 2005
Mixmasters, Adelaide city based studio. 2006

Brisbane & GC, QLD

Gingerman Studios - Brian Cadd's Gold Coast home studio
Troy Horse Brisbane

Perth, WA

Initially booked for the famous Planet Studios but didn't go ahead due to the studio fire which destroyed the studio prior to any projects confirmed

References

https://www.facebook.com/KoolSkools

The Kool Skools Project - c/o Studio 52 & Empire Music Studios Melbourne (Coordinator: Paul Higgins)