MATS operate ethically and morally for the betterment of youth across the country by offering a unique opportunity to progress as they gain in excellence and achievement.

MATS an annual talent search exclusively for Australians under 18 years of age.

We organize, operate, co-ordinate and solicit entrants to compete live on stage in a professional setting. We offer the entrants constructive advice and reward all with certificates and winners with trophies. One overall winner receives a ‘Personal Talent Development' package valued at $3.000.00 with a further two scholarships to be given to runners up valued at $500.00 each as an encouragement award.

Since MATS inception in February 2003, over 200 heats, 40 area finals, 16 combined regional finals and 4 state grand finals have been held in the quest presenting nearly 2200 acts involving almost 5000 performers live on stage. All shows have been held within the professional settings of various Clubs of NSW. We have had over 30,000 people attend the shows since our inception.

‘Series one' concluded with the ‘MATS' Grand Final held at Revesby Workers Club on May 23 2004. We hosted 35 ‘Finalists' who performed to an audience of over 900 people, awards were presented by music stars; Melinda Schneider, Jon Stevens, Nathan Foley, Dein Perry, Maria Venuti, Doug Williams, Graham Wilson, James Blundell and honoured guests Pat Rogan, Greg Kings and Allan Ashton MP.

The second year's operations began June 1 2004 and concluded with the MATS Grand Final again held at Revesby Workers Club on May 22 2005. The second year expanded to include more areas of NSW. This Final involved over 50 acts, and was attended by many entertainers and sporting stars as well as Members of Federal, State and Local Government.

Series three and four continued to build apon series one and two adding a country vocal section and an original music section sponsored by APRA to find the best top 3 songs submitted during the year from contestants under 20 years of age.

Series five commenced on the 1st of September 2007 and will consolidate more NSW regions culminating in the grand final to be held at the Revsby Workers Club on the 31st of August 2008.

MATS OBJECTIVE:

• To give as many children the opportunity to perform live on stage in front of a live audience in a professional environment.
• To seek, recognize potential, assist and acknowledge Australia's most gifted young performers as they strive to achieve excellence in performance.
• To professionally manage, organize and promote all MATS activities.
• Encourage all participants, regardless of their level of talent, to excel in what they do.
• To offer assistance and guidance to help achieve that potential.
• To create performance opportunities in a professional environment.
• To celebrate their talent as they grow in ability and achievement.
• To mentor all youngsters in a moral and ethical manner.
• To introduce the ‘Business of entertainment' as well as the ‘joy of performance'.
• MATS is also looking to become a National Event, covering all states over time.
• To maintain a web presence: http://matsaustralia.org
• To continue to develop and organize workshops and seminars to support the development of these young performers.
• To negotiate with various independent and major record labels to offer recording opportunities to competitors and advise on publishing companies for the original songs that are written by the performers.
• To create awareness of professional organisations and facilities available to entertainers across Australia.
• To continue to solicit further sponsorship to increase the prize pool for the competition winners and to aid in the achievement of the ongoing development of the ‘MATS' objective.

‘MATS' host clubs have so far been:

• Dee Why RSL
• Club Menai
• Campsie RSL
• Woonona Bulli RSL
• Windang Bowling Club
• St Georges Basin Country Club
• Avalon Beach RSL
• Wests Leagues Club Leumeah
• Wests Leagues Club Illawarra
• Souths League Club Merewether
• Mingara Recreation Club
• Rooty Hill RSL
• Mittagong RSL.
• Woy Woy Leagues Club
• Ingleburn RSL.
• St Marys Leagues Club
• Revesby Workers Club
• Easts Rugby Leagues Club
• Goulburn Workers Club
• Shell Harbour Workers Club
• Marconi Club
• Diggers @ the Entrance
• Ourimbah RSL Club

MATS is supported and sponsored by:

‘Clubs NSW' / APRA / Austral Drawing / The Exodus Foundation / Raleigh Trophies / N.P.B.Photographics.

MATS media partners – PRIME TV: Radio: 2GB 87.3AM / Wave 96.5FM C91.3FM / Power 94.9FM / KO-FM 102.9: - Newspapers: Cumberland / Fairfax / News Ltd / Torch Publishing

ONGOING AND EVER EXPANDING MATS INITIATIVES

Legal Awareness and Career Workshops .

The workshops are designed to educate MATS contestants and their parents in aspects involving a career in entertainment. Experts in Taxation, Management, Contracts and Entertainment Associations explain the advantages, pitfalls and legalities ahead of the young entertainers.

Rev. Bill Crews and the Exodus Foundation.

MATS association with the Exodus Foundation has enabled young entertainers to assist in much needed fund raising for the Foundation. It's a case of Kids helping Kids and to date

MATS has presented over $7000 to the cause, it is planned for a MATS CD to be recorded with all proceeds going to the Exodus Foundation.

Songwriting and Performance Workshop .

Allan Caswell hosted our first ‘workshop' on April 3 2005. This was for the best 30 junior songwriters in the quest. It was a 2-hour seminar/lecture and practical demonstration of songwriting and was received very enthusiastically by those who were present on the day.

Radio interviews and performances :

2GB have utilized MATS entrants to appear each week live to air on 2GB's ‘Club Show' with host Pete Graham. So far on air we have had, Luke Koteras, Natalie Colavito, Kirsty Akers, Kirby Burgess, Shauna O'Carrol, Joshua Green, Joseph Panuccio, Jess Higgs, Katrina Barry and Bronson Powell and many more who graced the air waves in 2005/6. This is a unique opportunity for self-promotion.

Ongoing creation of additional services by MATS to further promote the MATS objective:

MATS – MUSIC & ARTS TALENT SEARCH:

This is the primary function of MATS. Seeking ‘MATS Junior Performer/s Of The year'.

Who receive the title and $8.000-00 scholarship. Plus provides $2,000.00 to the runner up and a further $3,000.00 given to the dance studios who's troupes are placed in the in the under 18 and under 13 sections at the final.

MATS – COUNTRY AND WESTERN SECTION:

This section is run by Frank Ifield and will find the best country and western performer from the entrants.

MATS – MUSIC & ARTS TEEN SONGWRITER:

This category runs parallel to the ‘talent quest' and is the recently introduced ‘Original Music' category. Seeking ‘MATS Teen Songwriter Of The Year'. The winner receives the ‘APRA Award' as ‘MATS Teen Songwriter Of The Year'. Maestro Tommy Tycho will head the team to judge the entries for MATS Teen Songwriter of the year 2006/2007 along with Frank Ifield.

MATS ON PARADE – MUSIC & ARTS TALENT SHOWCASE:
This is the ‘live performance' arm that comes after the quest. To present the best young performers at ‘live music' venues across the State in various showcase scenarios.

ONGOING ACHIEVEMENTS OF PREVIOUS WINNERS 

Natalie Colavito: MATS first ‘Junior Performer of The Year' is now working towards her first CD. She has been performing live in Clubs and Hotels this past 6 months as lead singer with the band The Nats'. Natalie performed the National Anthem at Telstra Stadium for the Wallabies, Springbok Rugby Union game televised to the world. Natalie and Luke have been guest stars at various Charity Functions and headlined a major Tsunami Fundraiser held at the Wollongong Town Hall. In spending her Scholarship dollars she now has Charted sheet music for a 40-minute act, several stage outfits/dresses, has a professional photo portfolio, has paid her tuition costs for the next year and a half, which has helped take the financial strain from her parents. This scholarship has been of positive assistance to this young lady. She is more confident in her life and now has been able to set realistic objectives and has hope to achieving them. She has elected to put herself through a further 2 years at the Australian Institute of Music to further pursue her ‘Musical Theory' education.

Joel Howlett: 14 year old magician and Runner up in Variety in ‘Series one' took out the Title of MATS junior performer of the year for series two has been invited to Las Vegas to perform and gain experience from his peers. A finalist in 2006 Campbelltown Catholic Club Talent Quest

Luke Koteras: who won the instrumental category of MATS ‘Series One' received a recording opportunity courtesy of the talent quest last year and now has an original song ‘Traces of Tears' on the Foghorn labels ‘GYO no 9' CD release. Luke is also about to record his first '6 track' - all original music - CD. In August Luke toured China as a good will Ambassador and played guitar at several major concerts. He also performed live on Chinese TV to over 6 million viewers. He was nominated for The Johnny O'Keefe Encouragement award at the 2004 ‘MO' Awards in recognition of his talent.

Kirsty Akers: A current entrant in the quest and a very promising young country singer songwriter, was invited to perform at The Galston Country Music Festival. She also received broad acclaim at her performances during the Tamworth Country Music Festival; she was John Williamson's guest. Kirsty was runner up in the major open age Campbelltown Catholic Clubs Talent Quest. Previously won by Human Nature, Travis Collins and Shamus Early along with many other prominent entertainers over the past 20 years.

Kirsty and Luke are receipiants of the Frank Ifield ‘Patrons Choice Award' for the encouragement of their outstanding talent as songwriters and performers and was held at the ‘International Golden Spur Awards' at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL.

Ruwan Brell: Winner of the Under 18 dance category has now been involved in several workshops with Dein Perry the founder of the internationally acclaimed ‘Tap Dogs' dance troop and has the potential of achieving his dream of being a Tap Dog when he is older.

Anja Nissen: The eight year old who was runner up in the under 13 vocal category was spotted at the Final by Sony Music's A&R and has since had a recording test with Sony.

Lauren Azar at 15 years of age was the winner of MATS 2004/5 under 18 vocal has been selected as a soloist for this years School Spectacular to be held at the Sydney Entertainment Center. Lauren has been very busy performing at many Charity Balls and events. A finalist in 2006 Campbelltown Catholic Club Talent Quest

Many of our junior Finalists from series one, two and three have re entered ‘series four'. They are now in our seniors' age group and we enjoy their further development as they once again progress through the quest. They now see MATS as a major influence in their career development.

MATS- Judging and Encouragement

MATS prides itself on the integrity and professionalism of the experienced judging panel lead by Head Judge Kathy Watson. All contestants are encouraged to talk to the judges to get an assessment of their performance on the day. The judges will always focus on the positives of the performance whilst giving constructive criticism and encouragement, the contestants are always offered the chance to return as often as they like to help improve their act. The judging panel includes Maestro Tommy Tycho, Frank Ifield, Mary and Melinda Schneider, Claire Poole, Angela Townsend, Lola Nixon, Doug Williams, Maria Venuti, Lyn Dargie, Dean Perry, Glen Wood Plus many more specialists in the field of entertainment.

In General:

• MATS offer opportunities and support to many youngsters in areas that have not previously been offered.
• Artistically and geographically MATS is helping lead the way in youth culture within local entertainers development.
• From local community to the broader national stage the MATS initiative is proven and the level of support being achieved is ever growing.
• MATS involves and encourages all aspects of entertainment and arts including song, dance, variety, dance troops, theater, bands and instrumentalists and is non sectarian or religious in its operations.
• MATS is real, necessary, desired and applauded by all who are touched by it.

Tom McDonald

CEO Mats Junior Talent Search.