![Visiting ICMP student Abbey Grace wins Australian songwriting prize](https://www.icmp.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/news_details/public/abbey_grace_0.jpg?itok=SMO4qmVO)
Abbey Grace, a student at ICMP partner school Vocal Arts Studio and an ICMP songwriting workshop attendee, has won the Folk/Acoustic category at the Australian Songwriters Association Awards.
The 19-year old’s song, ‘The First and the Last Time’, was chosen as the winner from 5,000 entries in what is the largest songwriting competition in Australia. The track also came third in the Ballad category.
Abbey performed live on the night with a performance well received from the music industry elite who gathered for the awards.
Abbey has been writing songs for the past six years and has had previous success as one of the winners of the Australian Music Count Us in competition.
She has performed in London, America and across Australia and has had music, vocal and songwriting training at Vocal Art Studios in Airport West and ICMP in London.
Her debut EP ‘Wonderland’ was released last year and her winning track ‘The First and the Last Time’ was recently released on iTunes and other digital platforms around the world.
Commenting, Abbey said: "Many thanks to my family and my Vocal Art Studios family for their endless support and nurturing. Without the opportunities I have been lucky to receive, the songwriting process and this award wouldn't have been possible.
I had an absolute ball on both the intensive songwriting workshops I did at ICMP and learned so much and thank ICMP's David Howell for the opportunities and the other students from around Europe I was thrilled to work with that I met there."
Liz Tripodi, Vocal Art Studios founder, said: "We are so proud to be the only Aussie partner school of ICMP and through our collaboration with them our students have only thrived and excelled at the opportunities."
Listen to ‘The First and the Last Time’ on Spotify below.
Abbey's song is now available via iTunes and you can find out more from her Facebook and Instagram pages.
Find out more about Vocal Art Studios via Facebook and Instagram.
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If you'd like to follow in the footsteps of our latest graduates, then sign up for a course for 2018. Our Admissions Team are on hand to help you find the best course for you - call them on 020 7328 0222 or email enquiries@icmp.ac.uk.